Large Trunk Renewal Project Takes Big Step Forward

The City’s Ambitions Grand Trunk Renewal Project Took An Enormous Step Forward This Week.

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Councillors on Monday Accepted Recommendations from the Project’s ad hoc Committee for Critical Work Needed to Move the Project Forward and Attract Interest from Potential Partners.

The Committee – Joani Gerber, CEO of Investstratford; Emily Robson, The City’s Corporate Lead Initiatives; Form Mayor Dan Mathieson, who Chairs the Committee; And Members Melanie Hare and John Kastner – Focused on Four Areas of Action During its presentation to Council.

Hare Told Councillors these Recommendations Were Inspired by Other Projects, Such as the City of Guelph’s Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program. She described the great trunk project as a “Transformative Oce-in-A-Lifetime Opportunity ”That Would Revitalize A Large Swath of Stratford’s Downtown.

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“This Will Take multiple phases over multiple years – and probably decades – to happen. . . . We also Know and Have Learned that municipal investment is Going to continue to be nEEED to get the Project Started and Set The Foundation for Future Growth, ”Hare Said.

The Initial Priorities Four Identified by the Committee Are:

Activating the Grand Trunk Site On An Interim Basis

While the Report to Council noted the Site is Currently Secured for Safety Concerns, It also Acknowledged the Proprety “Needs Tempores Activations to Hurgage The Community, Raise Awareness, and Generate Excinest for the Long-Term Revitalization.” The Committee Asked Council to Direct Staff to Conduct Background Research on Temporary and Interim Uses, and Recommend Several Different Options included installations, Community Events, Performances, and Small-Scale Tours.

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Determining the Scope, Funding and Design for a Shared Community Recreation Facility

This recommendation is in Two Parts – Seeking External Funding Sources and Operational Partners, While Direct Staff to Conduct Exploration on the design, development and operation of a shared community facility, Along with a plan outline the project scope, Robson Explained.

City Staff, The Library and the Local Ymca Have Worked Together to Determine Individual and Collective Needs, but the detailed design work has yet to be. These discussions have identified a potential community space size of 21.336 square meters to 33.528 square meters (70,000 to 110,000 Square Feet, Which WOULD COST Anywhere from $ 48.5 million to $ 76.5 million, based on Current cost of $ 695 per Square Foot.

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The Committee Outlined Three Potential Ownership Options The City Would Adopt and then Estimated How Much of the Project Would Be Funded by the City Based on Those Options.

• A Third-Party Run FACILITY WOULD See the City Invest 3.7 per cent to 62.2 per cent of the total cost;
• A Shared Facility, Which is prefered option of the Committee, wow be 65.6 per cent to 78.7 per cent, and
• A Municipally Owned and Operated FACILITY WOULD BE 72.4 PER CENT TO 94.5 PER CHILD.

Developing an Expression of Interest for Housing Development

The Third Committee Recommendation Looks specificly at Developing Housing On a Roughly One-Hectare (2.5-Acre) Parcel of Land in the Form Industrial Area. This Area Alone Would Cost at Least $ 2 million for Soil Remediation, While Consultation Costs for An Environmental Assessment Would Likely Carry A $ 250,000 Price Tag.

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“While Environmental Remediation and Servicing Require Further Due Diligence, Advancing this Project Will Position The Site for Future Investment and Government Funding Opportunities,” The Committee Report Noted. During the presentation, Mathieson Said the Committee has already Held Funding discussions with Both the provincial and federal governments, Adding Those Will Continue with the Province Once A New Cabinet is picked following this Week’s election. However, Mathieson Said the Committee is in a bit of a holding pattern at the Federal Level, so was wasing to see What Happens Over the Next Couple of Months.

Developing An Expression of Interest for Parking and Mobility Solutions

The Final Recommendation from the Committee Looks to Address What Will Be the Loss of 437 Public Parking Spaces at the Grand Trunk Site Once Construction Schools? However, Hare Said the Focus Would Be More On How To Get People To And From The Site Rather Than Using Land To Create A Large Parking Lot.

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“So think about Unlocking Those Strategies by Starting with understanding How to Replace the Parking that is on site tODAY in a Financially Sustainable Manner is key to ensure that gtr benefits the city While Complementing the Downtown and Its Busines and Its Employees,” Hare Said .

YMCA Voices Support

Also presenting to Council were ymca of three rivers ceo mike ennis and its operations manager, jay colquhoun, who voiced their support for the recommendations and their excitely about being to partner on the project.

“Our building down the street is almost 60 years of age, and it is no secret that is in Need of A Renewal. We Truly Believe the Partnership is the way for that to harden, ”Ennis Said

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