|
|
TERRACE BAY DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT
To view some of the project pictures, click on the below images
CONSTRUCTION PICTURES
OVERALL PROJECT INFORMATION:
The Terrace Bay Downtown Revitalization Project is a $3 million initiative designed to assist our retail sector while building on our unique location on Lake Superior. This will be accomplished through 3 main activities:
1. Renovation of the Simcoe Plaza Area
– this will involve restoring the area with extensive improvements to the overhead canopy in front of businesses, development of a themed wall behind commercial signage, construction of three large gateway structures to identify walkways, painting of area sidewalks, addressing barrier free access issues, new accent lighting, new LED street lights, and extensive landscaping throughout.
2. Construction of the Terrace Bay Lighthouse
– the Terrace Bay Lighthouse is one of the most crucial parts of the entire project.
It will involve the design and erection of an amazing tourist attraction to hook tourists into the downtown area.
Visitors will want to stop at the Lighthouse for the amazing views of Lake Superior, the Slate Islands and the rest of the Township of Terrace Bay. The Lighthouse will be 50 feet high, directly off the Trans Canada Highway in the middle of Simcoe Plaza, and will be a replica of the Slate Islands Lighthouse which is the tallest in the Great Lakes. The lighthouse will also feature a 50x coin-operated viewfinder for visitors to see if they can spot a caribou on the shores of the Slate Islands.
3. Design of Unique Marketing Signage – in cooperation with the creation of a brand for the downtown, the look will be transferred to new project signage throughout the Township to further build the marketing of Terrace Bay.
This will include new Municipal entrance signage for when entering the Municipality as well as highway billboards for the Terrace Bay Lighthouse, Terrace Bay Beach, and Aguasabon Falls and directional signage. Additionally, new signage will be placed at the major attractions to show tourists where every business in Terrace Bay is located as well as new identification signage for Simcoe Plaza.
Funding Announcement of $1.9 million from the Honourable
Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, Michael Gravelle
PROJECT UPDATES
July 2010 - Public Forum
Approximately 50 people attended a public forum where Municipal Staff outlined in great detail the activities to be completed in the Downtown Revitalization Project. Residents asked numerous excellent questions about the construction and how it would enhance the community. Municipal Staff also outlined the rebranding project whereby a new municipal slogan and logo is being developed to build on the theme of the downtown and residents gave their feedback. A report will now be presented to Council at the next meeting for their consideration.
June 2010 - Letter of Intent Sent Out
A letter of intent was sent to LTL Construction from Thunder Bay for the construction work for the Lighthouse attraction and some of the marketing signage
April 2010 - Downtown Revitalization Tender Advertised
The tender ad for the Terrace Bay Downtown Revitalization project was advertised on this date with tender documents available for pickup on Wednesday April 14, 2010 from the Architects Office. All interested parties must attend a mandatory site vist to be held on Wednesday April 21, 2010 at 11:00am at the entrance to the Municipal Office. The closing date for the submission of sealed, irrevocable tenders is no later than 12:00pm, local time, on Tuesday May 11, 2010. For more information, please view the Tender Ad.
Please note: the tender closing period has been changed from the previous date of Tuesday May 4, 2010.
November 2009 - Final Engineering and Canopy work
The project continues to progress with new rendered drawings every week. The architectural team has suggested some exciting changes to the project that will be brought forward to the public soon. Taking advantage of the mild winter conditions, the project will began work on the underside of the Simcoe Plaza canopy. Activities involved removing the soffit and asbestos board underneath the canopy and evaluating the canopy structurally for the required improvements. The soffit will not be replaced until spring/summer 2010 after the entire project is tendered. Three construction signs have also been installed to recognize the commitment of our funding partners, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, FedNor, OMAFRA Rural Economic Development program, and the Community Adjustment Fund. Other project partners include Superior North CFDC, the Aguasabon Chamber of Commerce and the various businesses and corporations.
August 2009 - Federal Investments Are The Final Partner in Project Budget
MP Greg Rickford, on behalf of Tony Clement the Minister of Industry and responsible for FedNor, announced a contribution of $500,000 for the project on August 20 and then announced a commitment of $300,000 from the Community Adjustment Fund on August 27. This was the final contribution being sought and completes the necessary funding model for the project.
|
July 2009 – Engineering Underway
The development of final engineered drawings has begun and meetings have been held between the project steering committee and the Architects.
The project is expected to change in going from conceptual drawings to final design drawings, but the overall goal of revitalizing Terrace Bay will be the driving force behind any improvements. |
|
June 2009 – Project Architects Selected
As the majority of funding is now confirmed, the proposal from Kuch Stephenson Gibson Malo Architects and Engineer was formally accepted.
The proposal involved a partnership with Werner Schwar Landscape Architects in which Walter Kuch will be the project Architect and Werner Schwar will be the Project Manager. Walter Kuch is the lead partner with Kuch Stephenson Gibson Malo Architects and Engineer and has worked on numerous projects in Northwestern Ontario including the Terry Fox Tourist Information Centre and the Marathon Tourist Information Centre. Werner Schwar is owner of Werner Schwar Landscape Architect and was responsible for the initial Master Plan for the project and has been involved in other projects in the region including the Nipigon Downtown Revitalization Project and the Penn Lake Park Revitalization and Enhancement Project in Marathon.
May 2009 - Funding Announced for Downtown
Honourable Michael Gravelle, the Minister of Northern Development and Mines and the Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation announced the funding commitment on behalf of the McGuinty Government in Terrace Bay. The province is investing $1.9 million into Phase 1 of the Terrace Bay Downtown Revitalization Project which will encourage the creation of 30 jobs in new and current business growth. This announcement was on behalf of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The Honourable Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Forestry, was in town to personally announce the funding.
March 2009
-
Detailed funding applications have been submitted to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the OMAFRA Rural Economic Development Program, and FedNor with a response expected in April 2009
-
Corporate sponsors are being sought with some in development
-
A request for proposal for engineering/architectural services is being finalized
November 2008
-
Initial funding applications have been approved (October 2008)
-
More detailed applications are being developed for submission before the end of November
-
A land survey of the downtown area has begun which will involve a topographical survey and boundary retracement that will be necessary in the engineering phase
-
Over 25 letters of support have been received from local businesses and there has been significant interest from corporate donations
-
Funding partners have been very receptive to the project and the expected timeline for Phase 1 construction is Summer 2009
This project started in January 2007 through an identified need from businesses and residents. It has progressed with extensive public feedback to the development of a Master Plan for the Highway and Business Corridor and the completion of funding applications to the provincial & federal governments. The entire project is estimated at $7 million and will give a fresh look to the downtown of Terrace Bay based on the theme of Lake Superior, the Slate Islands Provincial Park, Forestry, and the rocky terrain of the region and the lighthouse that will be built. The slogan for the project is "Turning the Corner" to signify the economic rebound of Terrace Bay.
For more information on the Terrace Bay Downtown Revitalization Project contact:
|
Dean Main,
Community Development Supervisor
Township of Terrace Bay
P.O. Box 460, Terrace Bay, ON
P0T 2W0
Phone: 807-825-3315 ext.230
|
Sean Irwin,
Special Projects Co-ordinator
Township of Terrace Bay
P.O. Box 40 , Terrace Bay, ON
|
|
