Duane Hicks
At long last, the federal government formally announced its share of the funding for the future Rainy Lake Market Square project here yesterday.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak, on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development minister Navdeep Bains, announced $655,000 to help the town design and build a market square to “revitalize the heart of the community.”
“It’s apparent to me that the leaders here in the Fort Frances region are working together to develop and diversify the economy,” Rusnak said at a press conference held at the future site of the market square on Scott Street.
“We know how important that is because the economy is changing, as seen all over the region and, indeed, all over the country.
“We need to be innovative,” Rusnak stressed. “We need to think of new ways to grow our economy and grow our region.”
He added the federal government recognizes tourism is an economy-driver that helps enhance the long-term economic prosperity of the country.
“This is why we’re committed to strengthening the industry by collaborating with the public- and private-sector partners to set the stage for growth,” Rusnak remarked.
“That’s what brings me here today.”
Rusnak said the market square will house community events, concerts, and a farmers’ market, and serve as a gathering place for the community.
“I look forward to seeing first-hand, as the future rolls on, how this investment will deliver for the people of Fort Frances and the businesses here,” he noted.
Mayor Roy Avis said with the $655,000 announcement, along with the previous announcement of $997,500 by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC), the town “is well on its way” in its efforts to promote business and attract community investment.
“It has been a challenge to oversee a project of this magnitude and do justice to the history of the land that we are standing on,” he remarked, noting the fate of the vacant hotel and the property it sat on has been an ongoing concern since it was shuttered more than 10 years ago.
“All challenges aside, I believe this square will bring residents and visitors together to enjoy the functionality and benefits of this project, and be a positive as we work together for the benefit of all,” added Mayor Avis.
“We will enjoy this space in the future.”
In addition to Rusnak, Mayor Avis thanked the Rainy Lake Market Square Advisory Committee and the BIA for their input and many hours of consultation, as well as the Rainy River Future Development Corp. and Tannis Drysdale Consulting for their input and assistance.
“It’s an exciting time,” agreed John McTaggart of the Rainy Lake Market Square Advisory Committee.
“We’ve had local businesses involved. We have three levels of government involved,” he noted.
“We’ve got volunteers.
“It’s going to be a truly remarkable square,” McTaggart enthused. “We look forward to 12 months from now and having everyone back for the opening of this great market square.
“What’s here now,” he said, referring to the empty lot, “you will not recognize the end result.”
Project delayed
As reported earlier this week, it will be next year before the Rainy Lake Market Square is built.
Council approved a request from town administration at its meeting Monday night to delay the project until the 2017 construction season, with work anticipated to begin in spring and the square ready for use by mid-summer.
While the demolition, backfilling, and grading of the site, as well as the awarding of a contract for an architect, all were completed on schedule, the construction drawings and specifications have been delayed by more than a month, Operations and Facilities manager Travis Rob said.
Given the tender process to find a contractor would take at least a month, this would push the construction start date sometime into September—allowing for only about one month of weather suitable for this type of construction.
This is not enough time as the project will take an estimated eight-10 weeks to complete, he added.
A second reason is a request for a change in wording of a funding agreement with NOHFC.
Preliminary design drawings were received April 28 and the design subsequently was forwarded to the NOHFC and FedNor—two of the agencies helping fund the project.
FedNor provided only positive comments on the design.
But “the Heritage Fund did bring forward some concerns they had in terms of how the proposed design fit with the wording in their funding, and have asked us to put forward a change request with their board,” noted Rob.
The change request is in the process of being completed and submitted, along with costing data, to the NOHFC for its consideration.
However, the change request cannot be considered until its board meeting in October.
As such, administration recommended construction be delayed until next year, and the appropriate documents be filed with the NOHFC and FedNor to extend the project deadline to Dec. 31, 2017.
The design work currently being completed by Scatliff + Miller + Murray will be put on hold until the wording issue can be resolved with the NOHFC.
Rob said the delay very likely will help the project as a tender will be prepared and released immediately after the new year in 2017, allowing for the most competitive pricing among the bidders.
It also will allow for an early-spring construction start, meaning the market square will be ready for use by mid-summer instead of early fall.
