City's rail land clean-up project gets national attention

City of North Bay
News Release

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The 2010 Canadian Urban Institute has recognized the City of North Bay for its excellence in brownfield development for the ongoing remediation and revitalization efforts on the former Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway lands.

Brownfield sites are considered abandoned or underused industrial facilities available for re-use and redevelopment. North Bay’s submission entitled ‘Rail Lands Redevelopment in the City of North Bay’, profiled the remediation and development of the former CN and CP Rail Lands and featured many before and after photographs detailing the transition and success of the various projects.

At the 11th annual Canadian Urban Institute’s 2010 Brownfield Awards ceremony in Toronto, winners in seven (7) categories from across Canada were recognized for their leadership and innovation in brownfield redevelopment.

North Bay’s submission was chosen from a very strong field. Finalists for Category 5, recognized as the marquee category of Excellence in Project Development at the Neighbourhood Scale, included:

• East Village Re-Development, City of Calgary, Alberta

• Prince Arthur's Landing, Thunder Bay Waterfront Master Plan, City of Thunder Bay, Ontario

• Little Mountain Re-Development, City of Vancouver/Burnaby, British Columbia

• Rail Lands Redevelopment in the City of North Bay, City of North Bay, Ontario

Mike Anthony, Chair of Committee Services states; “This is a very important recognition of the transformation that has taken place in North Bay; and will continue to take place as the community stays focused on working together to make our city more attractive; and a great place to live. This national award recognizes the great work being done within our community.”

The award is truly a community award as these rail land developments have touched nearly every citizen of the City of North Bay at one time or another over the past two decades. From the investments made by the Federal, Provincial, municipal governments as well as the private investment, to the hard work done city councils and city staff, to the countless community volunteers, including the leadership of the Community Waterfront Friends and Heritage Gardeners, the various projects and community contributions are almost too many too name. Some of the highlights include:

CN Rail Lands

 The purchase and removal of portions of the Canadian National Railway lines, trestles and embankments;

 The removal of at-level crossings in the City’s west end and the construction of new single detached dwellings on the former rail bed;

 The construction of a new North Bay Hydro substation near Dashnay Street.

 The sale of lands to Ecole Secondaire Algonquin which led to the construction of a sports field and expansion to the school and its parking facilities;

 The reconstruction of major arterial street, including Algonquin Avenue, Front, Cassells, and Fisher Streets.;

 The creation of an 18-unit affordable housing project on Second Avenue;

 The sale and renewal of the former CN Station.

 The creation of a new playground, sports field and parking lot, including safer bus drop off lane, at Mother St. Bride’s school;

 The construction of seventeen (17) entry-level single detached dwellings on Third Avenue;

 The sale and construction of new single detached dwellings on Fisher Street; and

 The rehabilitation of Chippewa Creek, including the construction of a new multi-use path and pedestrian bridge near Hammond Street.

CP Rail Lands

 In 1999, the City, in partnership and the various levels of government, and in agreement with CP Rail, purchased 35 acres of underutilized lands near the Lake Nipissing waterfront in the city’s core;

 In 2000, Community Waterfront Friends was formed and worked with municipal leaders to create a plan that would beautify the area, revitalize the community and substantially contribute to an improved quality of life for all citizens.

 In 2001, Community Waterfront Friends signed a joint lease with the North Bay and Area Museum and embarked on a plan to rehabilitate the abandoned CP Station;

 The City set out to implement the vision for the Community Waterfront Park. Development has included a significant retrofit of the former CP Rail station to convert this facility into a regional museum and extensive soil remediation to rehabilitate the site after years of intensive industrial use and to prepare the area as parkland.

 The pedestrian underpass was recently opened, enabling individuals to travel between the Waterfront and Downtown areas. This pedestrian access is having a significant impact on the downtown with a demonstrated increase in daily traffic into the central business district.

 A Brownfield Community Improvement Plan (BCIP) was implemented to generate private sector re-investment and was complimented by a Downtown Community Improvement Plan (DCIP) that resulted in major façade and facility improvements to buildings in the downtown core and private re-investment in downtown businesses, including the construction of new office buildings and stores;

 The construction of Marina Point, a $16M residential complex built on the northern portion of the former CP Rail Lands acquired by the City. The decision to invest by the owners was strongly influenced by the Community Waterfront Park concept. This retirement community was opened in 2007 and currently employs approximately 80 individuals;

 Oak Street has been reconfigured, widened and repaved. Large cobblestone sidewalks have been installed and trees have been planted in anticipation of the final phases of the Community Waterfront Park and Civic Square construction. The reconstruction and widening of Oak Street included the construction of a new Transit Terminal;

 In November 2010, work began on the construction of a new Civic Plaza in front of the North Bay and Area Museum (@Discovery North Bay);

The CUI Brownie Awards jury was comprised of representatives from ten professional and industry associations. In addition to the Canadian Urban Institute and Canadian Brownfields Network, the jury included representatives from the Canadian Institute of Planners/Ontario Professional Planners Institute; About Remediation; Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement; Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario; Federation of Canadian Municipalities; Building, Industry and Land Development; Ontario Association of Architects; and Natural Resources Canada.

“All the winners showed an immense commitment to sustainable design and community revitalization,” said Glenn Miller, Vice President, Education and Research with the CUI. “Each and every one should be proud of their tireless commitment to their communities. The jury was impressed with the high caliber of submissions received this year, which is indicative of the high level of momentum and innovation evident in brownfields redevelopment across the country”

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