THUNDER BAY – Following a major decision to demolish the Victoriaville Centre, Thunder Bay’s city council is looking to put a greater focus on renewing the city’s south core.
Council endorsed in principle the creation of a new south core renewal advisory committee Monday night, put forward by Coun. Mark Bentz. City administration will now be tasked with reporting back with draft terms of reference for the committee by the end of January.
The body is expected to include representation from the public, the business community, and council itself.
Coun. Andrew Foulds suggested Monday that social services located in the area should also be represented, to ensure pressing social challenges such as housing were addressed alongside business development.
“Tonight we made a huge planning decision, and I think this committee is the next piece,” he told his colleagues. “We have people living on the fringes in the downtown core who need housing.”
Coun. Kristen Oliver agreed, hoping the committee would address issues like community safe spaces - an issue the demolition of Victoriaville is likely to worsen, according to the report prepared by consultants Urban Systems.
Coun. Peng You worried that the city too often got bogged down with committee work, but nonetheless supported the idea, which passed unanimously.
