Stratford City Council held its second public workshop on the future of the Grand Trunk/Cooper site to review past investments, explore options for a new community hub, and prepare for key decisions later this spring. No final decisions were made at this meeting.
SEE THE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWVBg7o9ABM
Key points from the transcript
*The City has invested about $28.7 million in the Grand Trunk/Cooper site since 2009, mainly for land expropriation, legal and planning work, site costs, and a $10 million contribution to the University of Waterloo campus.
*Existing features like the free Cooper parking lot and the new transit hub were highlighted as important supports for downtown businesses and the Market Square area.
*Council reaffirmed using the 2018 master plan and 2024 guiding principles (sustainability, fiscal responsibility, heritage, inclusion, vibrancy, and connection) to steer future development of the site.
*A major focus was a proposed shared community facility that would bring a new public library together with a YMCA at Grand Trunk, creating a central hub for learning, recreation, and community services.
*The Stratford Public Library explained that its current building is too small, difficult to access, and no longer able to meet community needs, and that a modern, accessible space at Grand Trunk would better serve residents now and into the future.
*The library and YMCA stressed that co‑locating services in one building can lower overall construction and operating costs, improve accessibility, and make it easier for residents to access multiple services in one visit.
*Council reviewed high‑level options and cost ranges for the remaining industrial “superstructure” at the site, from basic safety work and open‑air use to fully enclosing the structure, noting that the more extensive options would be significantly more expensive than a new building.
*Environmental conditions, nearby rail lines, and market interest will need more detailed study before council chooses a final direction for the superstructure.
*Staff will bring a third workshop focused on finances, looking at how Grand Trunk fits with Stratford’s overall long‑term capital needs and what funding tools are available (taxes, development charges, grants, and partnerships).
*After that, council is expected to consider formal recommendations, including whether to commit to the community hub at Grand Trunk and how best to involve private and non‑profit developers in the broader site.
THIS TEXT IS A RESULT OF NOTES TAKEN FROM THE MEETING. ERRORS MAY OCCUR. IF YOU SEE AN ERROR, LET US KNOW.