THUNDER BAY — City officials hope that making the Innova Business Park more visible will help draw attention to the development opportunities it offers.
The 71-acre park is bounded by the Harbour Expressway, the Thunder Bay Expressway and Golf Links Road.
Innova was established in the 1990s but has attracted only seven or eight businesses despite the city's marketing efforts.
In an effort to raise its profile, the city recently started removing brush and cutting trees on the park's perimeter.
"The streets are there. The pipes are there. It's ready for development," says Realty Services Manager Joel DePeuter.
There are about 50 serviced lots available.
Depeuter said "The demand is starting to pick up. We are receiving more inquiries than five or so years ago,"
The newest tenant in Innova is a package handling and distribution facility, but the company's name has not yet been disclosed.
Current designated usess for the park include light industry and offices.
Leslie McEachern, Director of Planning Services for the city, noted last year that "There's been pressure to develop it for uses other than what it's been set aside for...pressure for commercial development and pressure to loosen the design standards."
The city is examining whether the development parameters for Innova are appropriate.
In 2008, city council agreed to sell 52 acres to a Mississauga company for a 600,000 square-foot mixed-use retail centre.
The $8.3 million deal collapsed in 2010 when the developer pulled out, citing poor global market conditions and an inability to secure anchor tenants.
