Northern Ontario developments!

[ccnews]

[QUOTE=TbayON;5898969]Aren't they already in Intercity Mall? Or are they going to be moving over to the Thunder Centre once that place is built and the mall is only a temporary location?

the location in the mall was just a test, from what I was told

[vid]

I thought that was just a seasonal thing for Halloween, I didn't know it was an actual store.

According to the rendering on that board by the old TD, they are just paving over the lot. I don't see them wanting to block the visibility of the TD with another building in front. Also, if the city wants to improve that intersection in the future, they'll need the space.

[toaster]

Timmins city council voted to allow Goldcorp to create a new open pit mine in the heart of the city last night.

http://www.timminspress.com/2012/11/12/council-approves-pit-plan

[TbayON]

The mayor has said Thunder Bay will be interested in buying up the Thunder Bay Generating Station should the Ontario gov't, the OPA and OPG allow it/force it to shut down. It sounds like the city would be interested in partnering with FWFN and other municipalities when buying the plant. The city and a consortium of other communities attempted to purchase the Thunder Bay and Atikokan GS's quite a few years back, but were stopped by the higher powers to be.

[vid]

I don't remember any attempt by municipalities to buy TBGS and AGS?


The Toys'R'Us opening has been delayed until spring because of red tape. Which is kind of a good thing; I want to get a bunch of Lego when they have their opening sale and this prevents that from conflicting with having to buy presents for everyone else.

[TbayON]

Originally Posted by vid

I don't remember any attempt by municipalities to buy TBGS and AGS?

The former Northwest Energy Association (that Larry Hebert was a major player in and which ultimately got him removed as president of TB Hydro by Southern Ontario) had formed a partnership with a Texas utility company in the mid 1990's and bid $200 million for the two plants. The Texans pulled out when they were told the plants would have to eventually be converted to a coal alternative since the Texas partner was big into coal at that time.

The Northwest Energy Association (member municipalities were Atikokan, Fort Frances, Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Terrace Bay and Thunder Bay) had a plan in early 2000's as well which would have seen $9 billion invested into a petroleum coke plant in Thunder Bay and new grid connections throughout the Northwest. They called it Northwest Energy Works. The plan never came to fruition though.

Originally Posted by vid

The Toys'R'Us opening has been delayed until spring because of red tape. Which is kind of a good thing; I want to get a bunch of Lego when they have their opening sale and this prevents that from conflicting with having to buy presents for everyone else.

It was a delay in the building dept. that has led to a post-Christmas opening. I wonder with all the construction activity this year if the building dept. is too swamped to get their work done on time? They building dept. did warn developers to get their projects in early for this year as they were expecting to be very busy, which turned out to be true.

[vid]

Do you think they'll hire any more people for next year or will they just let this backlogging continue?

[tjernobyl]

Originally Posted by TbayON

Old TD Bank at the corner of Memorial and the Harbour is coming down today.

I like how the building proper is a collapsed heap, but the ATM appears to have survived unscathed- if the fence weren't there, you could almost still use the drive-through.

Originally Posted by TbayON

The Northwest Energy Association (member municipalities were Atikokan, Fort Frances, Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Terrace Bay and Thunder Bay) had a plan in early 2000's as well which would have seen $9 billion invested into a petroleum coke plant in Thunder Bay and new grid connections throughout the Northwest. They called it Northwest Energy Works. The plan never came to fruition though.

$2 billion was for a 1120MW plant, and $7 billion would be for an overhead line to Pigeon River, an underwater line to Michigan via Isle Royale, and DC conversion stations on either end. It was contingent on paying low taxes on FWFN land and a high exchange rate, neither of which really panned out.

Originally Posted by vid

Do you think they'll hire any more people for next year or will they just let this backlogging continue?

The climate right now is very much against any non-legislated increases in staff. Back around budget time, council directed Administration to cut out 5 of the 7 new positions. One of them was a part-time line painter, and I like to bring that up any time someone gripes about the condition of the lines on the roads and their tax rate in the same sentence.

[TbayON]

Originally Posted by vid

Do you think they'll hire any more people for next year or will they just let this backlogging continue?

From what I understand, the building and development dept. can be pretty difficult to deal with depending on who you are and who you have working for you. The city had indicated it wants to limit new hires as much as possible for monetary reasons as well. So, no I don't see anyone new coming on board and even if they did hire someone else, it probably wouldn't change a whole lot unless this new hire can somehow change the attitude there.

[TbayON]

The Crossroads Centre has gone to the public with their plan to renovate and move into the former Oliver Rd School. The move will allow them to expand the number of beds they offer. The Crossroads Centre is usually the final stop for people in drug and alcohol treatment programs when they are re-entering society sober. It sounds like there is a lot of opposition from area neighbours, big surprise.

Supposedly Air Bravo, who has a Thunder Bay base, has been purchased by a major American air ambulance firm. What this means for Thunder Bay's operation, I'm not sure, but it sounds like the new owners want to go after gov't work in the near future.

Another contract for the four-laning of the TCH between Thunder Bay and Nipigon has been publicly announced. The contract was actually signed over a month ago. The contract involves 13 km between Hwy 527 and MacKenzie Stn Rd at a price of $46 million and has been awarded to Aecon Construction. Survey work has already begun.

[tjernobyl]

The actual talk was on Friday, but there's an exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery about the Lakehead's unbuilt campus. The exhibition takes you from early concepts about the shape of the campus right to 2008's idea of a multiplex near the current Bora Laskin. Ideas include a re-routed Oliver road facilitating University development on the current hospital site, a cloverleaf on Lyon (renamed to Balmoral, I think), and a massive structure joining the main buildings to the Bora Laskin. There was discussion of the early campus as a winter campus for a winter city, with commercial development along the tunnels that eliminate the need to go outside in inclement weather. I highly recommend checking it out.

[vid]

How long is it on for?

[tjernobyl]

Runs till December 30th. Tues-Thurs 12-8, Fri-Sun 12-5, free on Wednesdays, $3 otherwise.

[Dwils01]

Construction to start in 2013.
The funny thing is to properties that they were trying to buy were two-duty free buildings, you think that they would already own those.

Article Here:
http://www.city.sault-ste-marie.on.ca/co...aultStar/11%2016BridgePropertiesSold.pdf

[vid]

So the Tim Hortons on Waterloo is completely different than it was a few weeks ago.

[ccnews]

Originally Posted by vid

So the Tim Hortons on Waterloo is completely different than it was a few weeks ago.

They finished renovations in the summer, added wifi as well

Still waiting to see whats going to happen with the lot next the the coffee shop

[TbayON]

Originally Posted by ccnews

Still waiting to see whats going to happen with the lot next the the coffee shop

Looks like it may be for future development at this point. There is a sign up advertising that space is for lease by a local realtor, but not much else has happened since the lot was cleaned up. Someone did post on the Opportunity Thunder Bay site that the rumour was Subway and one of the teacher's unions was interested in going into whatever is built there.

I am waiting to see who bought the piece of land at the bottom of the Main St. bridge behind Kilred Winding Industries as well. That lot has sat vacant for years and years. The lot across Fort William Rd. from the backside of Wal-Mart also went up for sale a while back. I am not sure if it was sold or not... I guess one would be able to gain access off of Fort William Rd. into that lot?

The structure for the new Fort William Clinic by the hospital is going up. I think its already 3 storeys high. No action on the new Pro Building at the hospital site yet that I know of or word from the hospital if it will house the long-awaited cyclotron.

Resolute Forest Products is investing another $10 million at its Thunder Bay sawmill. They will be building a pellet plant after receiving a contract from OPG for 45 000 kg of biomass pellets per year for the Atikokan GS. The plant is supposed to create 24 new jobs at the mill site once its up and running. There was no mention if additional woodlands jobs would be created, but one would assume it will definitely have a positive impact on harvesting activities. Another contract for 45 000 kg of biomass pellets was awarded to Atikokan Renewable Fuels, which will allow that company to convert the former Fibretech Mill in Atikokan to a pellet plant. That operation will create in the neighbourhood of 150 plant and woodlands jobs.

[ccnews]

the Thunder Bay Fire department hopes to relocate the Brown Street firehall on Frederica Street

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/250427/Picking-a-spot

here is the spot from Google Maps
http://goo.gl/maps/qzNhf

the former hall will be converted into an EMS building

[vid]

Should also note that our Streetview data has been updated, but old data still exists. The changes at the Courthouse site and the Hodder Avenue Interchange are pretty stunning. One moment you're in 2009, then next you're in 2012.

Unfortunately, they were all done in the spring, so the city doesn't look as nice as it did.

[TbayON]

Another deal is in place for County Fair Mall, with another company from Toronto:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-ba...ir-mall-developer-plans-for-library.html

Sounds like they are already working with a couple anchor tenants. They plan to tear down the old lumber yard and build some new commercial space in its place. Supposedly the Wal-Mart there (like it or not) can't even keep stock on the shelves (probably more of a logistics problem with so many new stores opening that were formerly Zellers) so that probably helped lured a buyer.