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Council in Brief: Oct. 19

City council votes unanimously to demolish the Victoriaville Centre.
Thunder Bay City Hall

THUNDER BAY – Monday’s city council meeting centred around council’s unanimous decision to demolish the Victoriaville Centre, reshaping the city’s south core.

Exactly how the former mall site will be developed remains to be decided, perhaps informed by a new south core renewal committee.

Monday also marked the first time media were invited back to council chambers to cover meetings since city hall closed to the public in March.

Victoriaville Centre to be demolished

City council voted unanimously to demolish the Victoriaville Centre Monday, with plans to reopen Victoria Avenue and add a public plaza on the former mall site.

The demolition and renewal project, estimated at $10.75 million, is expected to pay for itself within 10 years. The mall’s annual losses were projected to top $800,000 by 2025.

Demolition and construction on Victoria Avenue and the former mall site is expected to begin in 2022 and run through 2024.

Read our full coverage.

South core renewal committee moves forward

Following its Victoriaville decision, council looked to put a greater focus on rejuvenating the area with a possible south core renewal committee.

The proposal, from Coun. Mark Bentz, suggests forming an advisory committee with representation from the public and business community, as well as councillors.

The committee would play a similar role to the city’s waterfront development committee, which helped guide work on Prince Arthur’s Landing, Bentz said.

Other councillors emphasized the need to include social service agencies in that work, to address the area’s pressing social challenges.

Read our full coverage.

Fourplexes approved

Two four plex developments previously sent back by council for additional consultation with area residents were approved Monday night.

A proposal by developer John McRae to put similar four plex developments on Brent and Andrew streets required amendments to the city’s zoning by-laws. Four plexes are normally allowed only on corner lots in R2 zones.

Several residents gave deputations expressing their continued opposition to the developments, citing fears they would change the character of residential neighbourhoods and pose problems with flooding, parking, and snow removal.

City administration told council the developments were a positive move toward urban infill, and would not meaningfully exacerbate existing drainage problems on Andrew Street.

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