There are no plans to develop a long-term care (LTC) facility at the Grand Trunk Block, a fixture of the renewal project that featured prominently in earlier discussions around the downtown property.
In an addendum to Monday night's Stratford City Council agenda, a mid-year update report on the Grand Trunk renewal project was included.
Prepared by Joan Thomson, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the update entails the City’s progress since the redevelopment plan was approved in January of this year.
Plans for a LTC fell through after April of this year, when timing constraints due to provincial funding caused the developer to back out, shifting focus to another site within the city.
There are no other LTC proposals for the site.
Staff led an effort to confirm an alternative permitting process with the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP). The streamlined process was confirmed, allowing environmental approval to be done in one year as opposed to four.
This is due to the extensive environmental evaluation that has already occurred across the 18-acre site. The report notes that it will not diminish the environmental remediation before construction.
The establishment of the Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee was accomplished, as well as the appointment of the chair, former Stratford mayor Dan Mathieson.
The University of Waterloo (UW) is undertaking a building location study to determine their location for a new student residence building, but has not committed to the construction of the building.
The plan speculates that construction could begin in early 2025.
Likewise the construction of a YMCA/ Community Hub building could also start in 2025.
The design of internal roadways and site services is underway, though it is contingent on the confirmation of the YMCA and UW’s future facilities.
Funding for those roadways and services – and the approval of that funding – will likely be carried forward to the 2024 budget process.
The update was adopted by city council for consideration with no discussion or questions.
