New condos may be built at Thunder Bay's Cumberland Cinema
Thunder Bay developer wants to construct a new residential building, asks city for zoning change
A developer is considering another condominium building for Thunder Bay's north core.
The city has received a zoning change application for the former Cumberland Cinema Centre on North Cumberland Street. It would become the site of a six-storey residential building.
A planning supervisor with the city said the bylaw restricts the height of buildings in that area.
"The restriction is to 10 metres. They are asking for a height of 24 metres to permit a mixed-use building, with commercial uses on the main floor,” Anne Dawkins said.
The proposed building would include 71 residential units.
It's not clear at this point whether those units will be rental apartments or condominiums, but Dawkins said they will likely be condos.
The city's planning act doesn't require developers to specify the type of residential unit on their initial application, but developers will often volunteer that information if they plan to build rental apartments, she added.
"Because we have such a low vacancy rate in Thunder Bay, it's seen as kind of a plus for any application that's for rental accommodation," Dawkins said.
The planning department has circulated notices to business owners in the area and has received "some comments.”
Dawkins said she expects the application will go before city council in early 2014.