Destination North application to move ahead (updated)

City council, at its Monday meeting, voted to transfer its interest and eligibility for funding in regards to the Destination North project, at Mill Square, to the Destination North Discovery Group.

Council, in August 2013, approved the Destination North concept and directed city staff and the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to apply for a $5 million Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) contribution to the development from the Ontario government.

The $5 million from NOHFC, if approved, would be matched by private sector funding.

The city is no longer required to be a proponent in the application, but will be watching with interest as Destination North develops.

"Council should not take this as a signal that things are not going less than very well (with Destination North)," said Don McConnell, city planning director.

Destination North developer Justus Veldman was in attendance at Monday's meeting.

Veldman said Destination North will serve as an ideal place for visitors to the Sault, especially those coming off the nearby International Bridge, to investigate the community's heritage in a "woods and water" and aboriginal sense.

Veldman pointed out approximately 60 vendors are already a part of the Mill Market (a farmers market adjacent to Mill Square, the former St. Mary's Paper site), that the Mill Market property and Mill Square already serve as a new home base for Bon Soo activities, and that Mill Square's Machine Shop has already proven to be a popular concert venue.

A skills training program known as Superior Skills is also set up at Mill Square.

"We're happy to continue to work on the Destination North file," Veldman said to council.

Veldman said restoration of the Pulp Tower and Board Mill at Mill Square will hopefully start in spring 2015 and be tourist-ready in 2016.

Veldman estimated 30 to 40 full-time jobs will be created through restoration of the Pulp Tower and the Board Mill.

Veldman, who is also the Searchmont Ski Association chair, said work at the ski resort will proceed to enhance the Sault and area as a whole, and serve as an added enticement for doctors and other professionals to live and work in Sault Ste. Marie.

A small scale Entomica now exists within the Mill Market building.

An enlarged Entomica will eventually be housed in the refurbished Pulp Tower building.

There will also eventually be a new home for the Mill Market at Mill Square.  

Another highlight of Destination North is the proposed relocation of the Agawa Canyon Tour Train Station from its current location at Station Mall to the refurbished Pulp Tower building.

There will also be a Group of Seven Algoma component, to highlight the work of the famous Canadian painters who enjoyed portraying, on canvas, the rugged beauty of Algoma. 

Another highlight will be a First Nations component to Destination North, including a retail outlet highlighting Anishinabek arts and crafts. 

Destination North’s Discovery Centre will greet visitors with elements of Northern Ontario’s natural outdoors elements, including fishing and hunting.

Since the former St. Mary's Paper property was purchased by Veldman's Riversedge Developments in April 2012 and renamed Mill Square, the site has also become a new home for the Algoma Conservatory of Music and Algoma University's fine arts department.

Destination North's growth, it is hoped, will build on that progress.

Artistic rendering of Destination North