Northern Ontario developments!

[TbayON]

VXI Global Solutions, a company based out of L.A., is exploring the possibility of re-opening the vacant Victoriaville contact centre. They will be holding a career fair first. If there is enough interest from the local labour market, they will be bringing 300 jobs back. The CEDC attracted the company's interest, and will be assisting with the career fair.

City council will be looking at a proposal tonight to rezone lands between Field St. and Fort William Rd. away from industrial and more towards commercial office space. The applicant has listed financial, technical and/or medical office space as possible uses. No immediate development plans are in place, however, it is hoped a change in zoning will spur future development.

[vid]

Has anyone heard anything that substantiates the rumours started on Facebook by a former city council candidate that Victoriaville will be demolished?

[TbayON]

Originally Posted by vid

Has anyone heard anything that substantiates the rumours started on Facebook by a former city council candidate that Victoriaville will be demolished?

Nothing as of yet. Only Victoria Ave. running east-west could be realistically re-opened as a street. The parkade entrance ramp is in the way on Syndicate at the south end of the mall (and the parkade is definitely not going anywhere). A northbound one-way street could be accommodated though, or part of the structure kept as a covered pedestrian walkway. Syndicate would also run into the courthouse at the north end of the mall, and from what I understand, no streets can run directly into the courthouse building (which is why Syndicate was closed out front of the the Elks hall).

I have also looked at the city's long term capital plans, and I don't recall any large expenditures being earmarked for Victoriaville. However, sometimes these things aren't made public for legal reasons and tenant-landlord relations. There are certainly credible reasons for both keeping, and doing away with Victoriaville.

[TbayON]

Mayor Keith Hobbs stated in his address to the city on Monday evening that Thunder Bay is very close to landing a large manufacturing facility. The mayor went on to state the hundreds of jobs will be created locally and that an announcement, if not imminent, will come very soon. He did not elaborate on what the facility will build, or who the proponent is.

I will personally not get too excited until something is actually announced (I have heard this sort of stuff from the city before). I would assume it must be pretty well a done deal if true, or the mayor would not be able to make such a statement publicly.

[Conker]

Originally Posted by TbayON

Mayor Keith Hobbs stated in his address to the city on Monday evening that Thunder Bay is very close to landing a large manufacturing facility. The mayor went on to state the hundreds of jobs will be created locally and that an announcement, if not imminent, will come very soon. He did not elaborate on what the facility will build, or who the proponent is.

I will personally not get too excited until something is actually announced (I have heard this sort of stuff from the city before). I would assume it must be pretty well a done deal if true, or the mayor would not be able to make such a statement publicly.

I wouldn't get too excited either. Though I think Mayor hobbs has been the best mayor we have had in decades, he does tend to put the cart wayyyyy out before the horse.

[vid]

We still don't have that Costco. I'm not going to hold my breath. And I'm not going to really take it seriously if it's the giant solar panel plant until they start putting shovels in the ground and holding job fairs.

[TbayON]

A tender is out for demolition of the former Lakehead Labour Centre on Fort William Rd. The tender also covers construction of the first building of the new commercial development that will occupy the site. By the time the tender closes, the contract is awarded, and the building is torn down, construction won't begin until spring earliest.

There will eventually be 5 buildings constructed on the site. All smaller buildings as per the size and shape of the site relative to what is around the development. Largest building is around 16 000 S.F. I believe. There could be a multiple tenants in a couple of the buildings by the looks of things.

[TbayON]

Another building along Cumberland by the casino is in the process of being re-developed. It was purchased by the same contractor that fixed up the former outdoors store kitty-corner to The Prospector. I don't know exactly which building it is yet, but I do intend to find out... or it will become obvious with time.

The contractor is renovating both the first and second storeys for restaurant space from what I understand (for two separate restaurants). Other than half of Excuria, not many restaurants can boast being above street level, so it should be something new to downtown P.A.

[vid]

I think it's the building Thai Kitchen is in, used to hold Furniture Recycle. I can't recall what business was going in there, though. Some sort of retail place on the ground floor.

[TbayON]

Originally Posted by vid

I think it's the building Thai Kitchen is in, used to hold Furniture Recycle. I can't recall what business was going in there, though. Some sort of retail place on the ground floor.

That one is well underway already. It is actually the Lyceum building... the numbered company the bought it a while back is finally getting at it now. The main floor is supposed to open first as a more upscale martini bar.

Parts of the back of the building are totally exposed to the elements at the moment. There will have to be significant work done before the building is ready for occupancy. Knowing who is behind it, I am very confident it will get done though, and look good when it is complete.

[tjernobyl]

Originally Posted by TbayON

Another building along Cumberland by the casino is in the process of being re-developed. It was purchased by the same contractor that fixed up the former outdoors store kitty-corner to The Prospector. I don't know exactly which building it is yet, but I do intend to find out... or it will become obvious with time.

The former Furniture Recycle between Thai Kitchen and the Body Barre is undergoing a fair bit of work; the facade's been completely redone. On the south side of Thai Kitchen, the Ottawa House is going to house In Common, a restaurant focusing on healthy and local cuisine.

Originally Posted by TbayON

The contractor is renovating both the first and second storeys for restaurant space from what I understand (for two separate restaurants). Other than half of Excuria, not many restaurants can boast being above street level, so it should be something new to downtown P.A.

Ay, how I miss the Keskus food court...

Breakwater Taphouse is above street level, but the size of their kitchen really limits what they can provide.

Originally Posted by TbayON

That one is well underway already. It is actually the Lyceum building... the numbered company the bought it a while back is finally getting at it now. The main floor is supposed to open first as a more upscale martini bar. Parts of the back of the building are totally exposed to the elements at the moment. There will have to be significant work done before the building is ready for occupancy. Knowing who is behind it, I am very confident it will get done though, and look good when it is complete.

I walked by the other day when the boards were off. The floor on the southern side had been entirely removed, leaving a void from sky to basement. When that section is done, it'll be a brand new building behind the facade.

[Dwils01]

Essar Steel Algoma is for sale or is looking for a major investor.
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/...process-196424

[TbayON]

Originally Posted by Dwils01

Essar Steel Algoma is for sale or is looking for a major investor.
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/...process-196424

Not going to be an easy sell I don't think... steel markets are the shits right now for producers. I think the plant will require significant recapitalization to be competitive and profitable for the long term. From what I gather, Essar Algoma is competing with offshore products that are all to often being dumped into Canada. The Soo will need an investor with very deep pockets to come along. Hopefully Essar can keep things going until the future starts to look a little better. Having Tenaris and Essar down would certainly hurt you guys a lot.

=========

Lakehead Public Schools is looking seriously at rationalizing their operations in Thunder Bay. Included in the plans are halving their number of high schools from 4 to 2, and closing a number of underutilized elementary schools. Several options are on the table affecting different schools in different ways

A number of additions and/or new structures may be required depending on which direction the board takes. I'm thinking anywhere from $50-$100 million could be spent. A significant spin-off construction effect could also be created when developers get their hands on the closed schools. Should all unfold by October 2016, when the board makes its final decisions.

The Keg is open again after interior renovations. Tony Roma's should be open by the end of the month latest. Work is now underway on the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store in Intercity.

[F. Lionel]

Originally Posted by TbayON

Lakehead Public Schools is looking seriously at rationalizing their operations in Thunder Bay. Included in the plans are halving their number of high schools from 4 to 2, and closing a number of underutilized elementary schools. Several options are on the table affecting different schools in different ways

A number of additions and/or new structures may be required depending on which direction the board takes. I'm thinking anywhere from $50-$100 million could be spent. A significant spin-off construction effect could also be created when developers get their hands on the closed schools. Should all unfold by October 2016, when the board makes its final decisions.

Closing schools is going to be a long, hard fight. Rational thoughts seem to go right out the window where school closings are concerned. Having been in schools that were slated to be closed as well as being part of the intake schools at other times I can say that everyone takes this very personally.

That being said Thunder Bay has gone from 10 public high schools and 2 catholic high schools 35 years ago to what is now 4 public high schools, 2 catholic high schools, 1 french catholic high school, and 1 independent high school (and a second in the planning stages). We also have one year less of high school education (no more Grade 13/OAC) which means less students in the system. These are the facts that will be thrown out and the public will disregard because "Think of the Children."

I suspect that this will be highly political and there will be some very public debates before October. People are going to get very very angry, especially concerning the proposed grade school closures. This is one of those things that is far from being over, more like just beginning.

[Loco101]

There have been a number of school closures in Timmins over the last few years. When there is declining enrollment it's hard to justify keeping every school open. Nobody here put up a big fight for any of the closures. Most would prefer to have schools that can offer more and don't have budgets that are stretched thin.

District School Board Ontario North East (English-Public) has even posted its long term plan of which schools will be closing within the next decade and which schools will merge so that it is clear to everyone.

As far as developments in Timmins:

-construction of the Best Western on Airport Road has resumed after the developer went through a nasty divorce and was low on funds

-Lake Shore Gold has been bought by Tahoe Resources and the Timmins West mine is still hiring miners. The price of gold has also rebounded which is great news.

-unemployment rate is still very low

-the state of the city's infrastructure is a disgrace and without a doubt is the worst in the entire province

[vid]

We have two options regarding schools: raise taxes to keep them open, or maintain taxes and merge underused schools.

Duluth-Superior (113,000 people) has 26 elementary schools and 4 secondary schools. We (108,000) have 40 elementary schools and 8 secondary schools. Duluth-Superior has two school boards and a plethora of privately operated schools. We have four school boards. There is a lot of waste and duplication in our education system.

The interesting thing, looking at the reports the LPS did on the schools (they have a detailed report on each school affected, they're quite interesting) is that the French Immersion courses are expecting huge growth, while English language instruction decreases rapidly, especially in the post-war suburbs. As it is, CD Howe School has only 120 students and nearly half the building is being used by other institutions, primarily a daycare.

[TbayON]

There actually has not been a major outpouring of public disapproval about the current plan as of yet relative to the last round of school closures approx. 10 years ago (FWCI, PACI, Hillcrest etc.). I think LPS is doing a much better job this time explaining the challenges, and likely benefits to students when more students are in one location.

[vid]

Originally Posted by TbayON

There actually has not been a major outpouring of public disapproval about the current plan as of yet relative to the last round of school closures approx. 10 years ago (FWCI, PACI, Hillcrest etc.). I think LPS is doing a much better job this time explaining the challenges, and likely benefits to students when more students are in one location.

I must be reading different Facebook comments than you? Everyone I talk to in person thinks it's a smart plan (including those working for the school board), but the Facebook armchair politicians are up in arms about the whole thing.

It was all overshadowed the other day however when JP Fraser hijacked a local bakery's page to complain about taxes.

[TbayON]

I stay far, far away from most of Facebook and the online comment section of the news outlets. Life is too short to waste my life away reading comments of questionable intelligence on those platforms. I also prefer to talk to people in person. And the people I talk to, including those within the board, understand there is a need to make changes and that the status quo is not a sustainable option.

[Loco101]

I agree that those making political comments on Facebook and comments on news sites are not at all representative of the population. Here they always seem to be ultra right-wing comments made by older men. Yet we live in a city with a very left-wing NDP voting population.