South side should be option for multiplex, area BIA officials say

J.P. Fraser says a Simpson Street-area location for Thunder Bay’s proposed multiplex facility makes the most sense.

Fraser, a board member on the Victoria Avenue Business Improvement Association, said he was disappointed when city officials released a list of five potential locations for the facility, and not one of them was in the south downtown core.

Both his BIA and the Simpson Street BIA on Monday made their case to the media, issuing a joint release asking the city to reconsider.

It would be a costly mistake to place it elsewhere, Fraser said.

“There’s a tremendous amount of vacant land that’s shovel ready, that’s all set to go for a multiplex, without any extra cost to the city,” Fraser said. “It’s basic economics. This whole area has new sewer, new water, it has all the infrastructure, fibre optics, and it’s ready to go.

“Plus, it will complement the courthouse. A lot of the activities that take place in the multiplex will be in the evening, while the courthouse goes on during the day. So you could use any parking that’s required for one during the day and use it in the day for the other.”

The five locations the city listed include land adjacent to the Thunder Bay International Airport, Pool 6 and Port Arthur Arena.

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.

The Water Street location, in particular, has the support of several councillors, who say it fits in well with the city’s official plan, which calls for a north-side entertainment district and a south-side government core.
 
Fraser calls it hogwash.

“There’s government offices, including the Ontario government building, in the north ward. There are also government offices in the south ward. There’s also entertainment places, like Fort William Gardens, here in the south ward,” Fraser said.

“I don’t think it’s really a policy. It’s an idea that probably was abandoned 10 to 15 years ago.”

Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds, a strong backer of putting the multiplex – which has yet to be approved by council – in a downtown core, but disagrees with Fraser’s take on the situation.

“I believe we have a strategic plan and have to stick to it,” Foulds said via email Tuesday morning.

“If the feasibility study on the multiplex is favorable, the funds are available and council decides to move forward with this legacy project then the best strategic location is the north core.”

Mayor Keith Hobbs said he suggested a south-side option several months ago, but council and administration didn’t listen.

Local business owners are upset at what they see as an oversight on city administration’s part.

Tom Petrie, vice-chairman of the Victoria Avenue BIA, said people are already on automatic pilot traveling to downtown Fort William, making it the perfect place to build a 6,500-seat facility that is also expected to contain convention space.

“We’re capable of handling it, we’ve done it before and we can do it again,” said Petrie, the owner of Petrie’s Cycle and Sports.

The south side is a better option, and Petrie said he hopes council and administration is open to listening.

“You better look at it strongly and make a decision that makes sense for this community,” he said.