One less hurdle for redevelopment of St. Mary's Paper site

As expected, City Council cleared the way at its regular meeting Monday for Riversedge Developments Inc. to move ahead in earnest with redevelopment and reuse of the old St. Mary's Paper site's former office building, machine shop, and related parking.

Council's decision Monday removes a holding by-law for those particular parts of the property.

The site was purchased by Woodstock, Ontario-based Riversedge in April 2012 after St. Mary's Paper went bankrupt in 2011.

Riversedge specializes in redeveloping old industrial sites for new, alternative purposes.

It has not yet been finalized as to exactly how Riversedge plans to transform the property. 

The company has gathered input from meetings with a diverse group of community organizations and tours of the property, and has stated it envisions a multi-purpose role for the site, including a mix of commercial, residential, educational and renewable energy uses.

Concepts that could possibly be included in the site's new multi-purpose role include a performing arts centre, a farmers' market, an exhibition space and an art gallery.

One component - the machine shop - has already shown its potential as a performing arts centre, beginning with events hosted there in last year's Algoma Fall Festival.

Known as Mill Square, the old machine shop has the capacity of seating between 250 and 600 people for events, and boasts splendid acoustics.

Riversedge has said it intends to keep up the site's historic sandstone building look.

The property has two designated heritage structures, which will remain in place.

One of them is a replica of a canoe lock that was built in 1896.

The other is the general office building, constructed of sandstone, in the early 1900s.

No new buildings are to be added to the area.

The former St. Mary's Paper office building, machine shop and parking lot, reaching on to the east and west sides of Huron Street, take up approximately 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres).

It is hoped by City planners that development of these buildings by Riversedge will also breathe new life into the Gateway Project initiative, as well as spur development in the City's downtown area.