North’s side

Suzan Rochon doesn’t want the debate over a location for a proposed multiplex to cause a Fort William versus Port Arthur intercity fight.

But the Waterfront District BIA chairwoman says the city’s north-side appears to be the better fit.

"One of the first things to remember is that it’s not about the north and the south it’s about where the best place for the multi-event centre is," Rochon said Wednesday.

"This is the arts and entertainment district and the south core has been named the government district. That’s why the courthouse is leaving here and going into the south-core. I think we should stick to the city plan. I think the Water Street terminal is the best spot."

Rochon added that the Waterfront District has more opportunities for people to shop at local stores, stay at the Prince Arthur Hotel or the new hotel at the Marina, all of which could be in walking distance of the multiplex facility.

Members on the Victoria Avenue Business Improvement Association on Tuesday voiced their disappointment that not one of the five potential sites for the facility was in the south downtown core.

Rochon said city council looked at the most viable options for the facility and came up with the best options available.

The two most popular appear to be Innova Park and the Water Street bus terminal, both of which have garnered plenty of buzz online, the latter having its own Facebook discussion group.
While Innova Park offers more parking, people would have to walk farther to get where they want to go.

Imagine coming downtown and having bad weather one afternoon and parking your car seven to 10 minutes away, you could pop into a local coffee shop and grab a cup of coffee until the storm lets up," she said.

"We have two underutilized municipal ground parking lots that don’t even have three or four cars during the day. When the city did their presentation on some of the locations, they did show that there was adequate parking for a multi-event centre to be located in the north core."

With the multiplex in the Waterfront District, more businesses would start up and give a boost to the business already established, she said.

McKellar Coun. Paul Pugh, who sits on both the Victoria Avenue BIA and on the Waterfront District BIA, said in an email to tbnewswatch.com that he’s taking suggestions from both sides and paying close attention to every deputation.