Plans for Mohawk Lake District moving ahead
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Development of the history-rich Mohawk Lake District reached another milestone with city councillors approving a preferred plan.
The plan, which received unanimous support at a community development meeting this week, includes a mix of commercial and residential development and green space.
“This project will be the rebirth of Eagle Place,” said Coun. Richard Carpenter. “This really will be a community centre.”
With the cleanup of the Greenwich-Mohawk brownfield site complete and testing that will determine water quality of the lake and canal underway, the city is considering what to do with the area that stretches from Shallow Creek Park on East Avenue to the Alfred Watts Generating Station ruins near Locks Road.
The area includes the Greenwich-Mohawk former brownfield site, Mohawk Park, the former Cockshutt timekeeper’s building, a privately owned rail spur line and active industries.
The preferred plan was put together by city staff based on feedback from the community. There were more than 600 responses received from people who attended information meetings and participated in an online survey.
“This is the key decision point in the ongoing Mohawk Lake District Plan work programs that will result in a plan for revitalization and redevelopment of the study area,” said a report presented to councillors by Tara Tran, a senior policy planner for the city.
Tran said there are three main sub-areas of the Mohawk Lake District: the gateway area from the downtown; the culture and community destination area made up of the former city-owned brownfield lands where the majority of redevelopment will take place; and the Mohawk Lake and Park Recreation Area, which is to remain primarily as it is.
The plan includes:
• A gateway at the western part of the district intended to provide transition to and from the downtown, with the possibility of mixed commercial and residential development.
• A large event space of about 15 acres for events such as Canada Day celebrations.
• Mixed commercial and institutional development, including potential for residential units, retail, restaurants and offices.
• 29 acres of space requested by various community groups.
• Museum space for possible expansion of the Canadian Military Heritage Museum and for the Canadian Industrial Hertitage Centre’s proposal to create a facility that could include artifacts, such as tractors, that represent some of the products previously manufactured on the site.
• New and enhanced trails.
• Enhanced streetscapes.
• Potential or enhanced canal or rail crossings.
• Lookout points.
• Waterfront recreational opportunities dependent on future water quality assessments.
• A potential trail that connects the overall trail network to the Grand River and the Alfred Watts Hydro Generating Station Ruins, a destination to learn about the city’s industrial heritage.
Tran stressed that the plan hasn’t been finalized and there is lots of opportunity for modifications.
The next stage will include technical studies “to ensure that the vision of the community is realistic.” It will evaluate the environmental impact, the need for transportation or infrastructure upgrades or alterations, as well as an assessment of compatibility with surrounding land uses and the economic market conditions.
While the Mohawk Lake District Plan considers all the lands that comprise the district, the 50-acre Greenwich Mohawk former brownfield site has the greatest potential for re-development and will “act as a catalyst to stimulate the revitalization of the entire area,” said Tran.
There are 12 organizations that have expressed interest in locating to the area: the Aboriginal Health Centre, Lansdowne Children’s Centre, the Children’s Safety Village, Participation Support Services, Brant Theatre Workshops, Brantford Symphony Orchestra, Brant Historical Society, the Personal Computer Museum, the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre, a mid-sized performances space, Brantford police services headquarters and Six Nations Polytechnic.
Tran said some groups want to construct new buildings and other are requesting to lease or rent multi-use buildings on the site.
Representatives from some of those groups say not knowing if they will be able to relocate to the area is impeding their ability to raise funds.
Rita-Marie Hadley, executive director of Lansdowne, told councillors that a critical lack of space at the agency’s current location on Mount Pleasant Street is curtailing its ability to provide services to children and youth with physical, developmental or communication needs, and their families.
Over the past 20 years, Hadley said the agency has tripled the number of children it serves and doubled its staff. There are 1,800 children on a waiting list for services.
“We cannot function properly to meet the needs of children,” said Hadley, adding that without a dedicated site for a new building Lansdowne can’t apply for government funding.
Leo Vos, president of the board of directors for the Children’s Safety Village, said they also need a cost estimate for a new location so they can develop a capital fundraising campaign.
The village needs to move from its present location on Elgin Street by early-to-mid 2022.
“It’s pretty hard to launch a campaign without knowing where you’re going,” Vos told councillors.
Tran said she’d like to see the community groups share space in multi-level buildings but proposals can’t be considered until the technical studies are completed in the summer, with the results likely available by fall. A finalized plan will be presented to council in 2020.
“The aim is to keep the project moving forward but technical studies are very important,” said Tran.
She said land uses are still an issue because of neighbouring industries in the area.
Coun. Dan McCreary questioned staff about the cost of the project and ongoing maintenance fees that will be borne by the city.
“We have to look at some point at the dollars and cents,” he said.
Nicole Wilmot, the city’s manager of long-range planning community development, said costing will be part of the long-range planning.
“Endorsement (of the preferred plan) gives planning staff some direction to continue to move forward,” she said.
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