Thunder Bay councillors fret over waterfront spending
Some Thunder Bay councillors say public is expressing concern over mounting costs
City councillors have approved another $615,000 to finish phase one of Thunder Bay’s waterfront development, but some were unhappy to do so.
About half of the money will rebuild fish habitat lost when the city in-filled part of Lake Superior, to build Prince Arthur's Landing, as part of an agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Waterfront book
One city councillor says when the waterfront development at Prince Arthur's Landing is complete, he wants to see the city commission a book on the project.
Joe Virdiramo said something should reflect all the hard work the city has done and that the waterfront would make for "a good story ... in written form, with appropriate pictures, documenting what we've done on the waterfront."
He said the story should include "the pluses, the minuses, [and] everything we've done to get to this point in time."
Administration will now figure out if such a book is possible, and how much it would cost.
Coun. Rebecca Johnson said she knows the city has to complete the project, but said she sees the expenditure as yet another cost to the $60-million development.
"I'm kind of disappointed that we have to have this back in front of us again," she said.
"I'm looking now as to how many [times] is it going to come again."
Coun. Paul Pugh said he's heard from many people who are concerned about the rising costs associated with developing the city’s waterfront.
He said the city should ensure the public knows when a development is — and is not — complete.
"We need to improve the way we communicate these things," Pugh said.
"The fact that there were other bills to come, I think that's understandable if one looks at the whole history."
The federal and provincial governments have chipped in $36.5 million for project.