City to explore plan to move forward on renovation of CNR Heritage building on Waterfront

City Council will hear of a plan to redevelop the long abandoned
CN station on the waterfront tonight

Members of Prince Rupert City Council will receive a report this evening that will outline a plan to seek infrastructure funding to support the redevelopment of the CN Heritage Rail Station on the Prince Rupert waterfront.

The long time fixture near Rotary Waterfront Park has been abandoned for a number of years and fallen into a rather obvious state of disrepair since that time and has often made for  discsussion topic at Council sessions of the past.

The plan to remediate that building will outlined by the city's Communication Manager Veronika Stewart tonight as she delivers a report on the topic, which would make the Heritage building part of the larger "Rupert's Landing" project which would also include the relocation of the airport ferry terminal to the area as part of a new welcoming entryway to the community.

In her report, Ms. Stewart notes that the project would be an important capital investment that would benefit the City's cultural and transportation needs into the foreseeable future.

With an estimated cost of approximately 4.2 million dollars, the funding process for the Heritage Building plan would see the city apply for 2.5 million dollars in funding through the Western Economic Diversification Fund, with an additional 1.26 million to be sought through the Port of Prince Rupert Community Investment Fund.

The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Economic Diversification Infrastructure fund would put another 200,000 dollars towards the project, while the City of Prince Rupert would be responsible for 200,000 dollars in funding, 50,000 of which would come from in-kind contribution of project management and oversight.

The city's contribution is to be addressed through the 2019 Five year financial plan.

The funding is proposed as part of a dividend from Prince Rupert Legacy, with it being noted that a moderate return on investment could be seen from the renovation plan.

Council  members will be able to ask questions of the Communications Manager as part of the delivery of the report this evening.

For more items of note related to this evening's Council session see our Council Preview here.

A wider overview of Council Discussion themes can be explored here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review.