Background:
In 2017, the City of Stratford retained Urban Strategies to draft a flexible Master Plan to help guide the evolution and future growth of the Cooper Block.
The Cooper Block Master Plan, now called the Grand Trunk Master Plan, provides a framework for how the site could develop over time and it addresses a range of urban planning and urban design matters such as parking, built form, open space provision, the public realm, and the street network.
The Master Plan presented to Stratford City Council in 2018 is available here: Grand Trunk Master Plan 2018
The Powerpoint presentation by Urban Strategies is available here: Grand Trunk Master Plan Presentation
Cooper Block/Grand Trunk Redevelopment Chronology: 2015-2022 |
2015
Spring:
- Government of Ontario appoints Special Advisor on Community Hubs, and creates Community Hub Framework Advisory Group
- City Council considered demolition of the Cooper building and cost proposals for partial adaptive reuse options
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Summer:
- The decision to demolish was deferred;
- The site was fenced;
- Loose material and exterior buildings were removed;
- Demolition costing options were procured;
- An RFP was drafted for a commercial realtor to market 75,000 square feet of the existing building as adaptive reuse.
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Autumn:
- Ventin Group (VG) Architects presented Cooper building redevelopment options to Council, stating that the building was an asset that the City could consider preserving for adaptive reuse at potentially lower cost than new build on site;
- Council referred the VG report to Planning and Heritage subcommittee for review;
- VG report was referred to the University of Waterloo Stratford for comment and to the Parking Study
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
2016
Winter:
- CAO retired; proceeding with redevelopment was placed on hold during CAO recruitment
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Spring/Summer:
- CAO started with the City and began reviewing the file;
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
- Market Square redevelopment options were considered:
- AtFocus consulting presented the results of their visioning exercise to Council;
- Market Square redevelopment would require the relocation of the City’s transit terminal at the back of City Hall
Autumn:
- Stratford Festival proposes reconstruction of Tom Patterson Theatre, which would require Kiwanis Community Centre relocation
- Golder was retained to deliver a Record of Site Condition for Cooper site environmental remediation
- Market Square redevelopment construction begins
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
2017
Winter:
- City retains Urban Strategies to draft a Master Plan for the redevelopment of the Grand Trunk site, including a fulsome public consultation process
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Spring/Summer:
- Urban Strategies presents proposed comprehensive Grand Trunk Site public consultation process to Council;
- Urban strategies leads public consultation process;
- Market Square redevelopment complete;
- Transit Terminal was relocated to the Cooper Site in a temporary facility;
- Locations for a permeant new transit terminal are considered through public consultation process
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Autumn:
- Urban Strategies presents Grand Trunk public consultation update to Council;
- Golder’s contract is expanded to include future Cooper Site development projects, including a potential Community Hub and Transit Terminal;
- Tom Patterson Open House held on September 26 to consider public feedback; feedback was presented to Council on October 23;
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
2018
Winter:
- Grand Trunk Master Plan public consultation summary and strategy presented by Urban Strategies and approved by Council
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Spring:
- Transit terminal construction began at Grand Trunk Site;
- Government of Ontario grants $10 million in funding to Stratford’s proposed Community Hub;
- New Ontario Government elected and pauses all of the previous government’s funding commitments, including the $10 million allocated to the Hub
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Summer:
- Grand Trunk Master Plan implementation plan presented to Council and Grand Trunk Stratford Lakeside Active Adults (SLAAA) Advisory Group created;
- The City continued to explore partnership opportunities and request government funding commitments for the Hub on an ongoing basis
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
Autumn:
- Municipal Election;
- New Transit Terminal opens at the Grand Trunk site on Downie Street;
- Grand Trunk building Structural and Roofing report received from NA Engineering;
- Grand Trunk site expenditures report presented to Council
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
2019
Spring/Summer:
- CAO retires
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
- Annual delegations at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference with various Provincial ministries to discuss the Community Hub project and submit funding requests for consideration
Autumn:
- City retains Strategy Corp to assist with application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) for Community Hub funding;
- ICIP application submitted
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
2020
Winter:
- ICIP funding application denied
- COVID-19 declared global pandemic; Community Hub initiative placed on hold
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
2021
Summer:
- Council confirmed their commitment to the revitalization strategy presented in the 2018 Grand Trunk Master Plan, and directed staff to reinitiate the redevelopment process, beginning with structural remediation, including the removal of the roof, skylights, planks, and disposal of hazardous material.
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
- Annual delegations at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference with various Provincial ministries to discuss the Community Hub project and submit funding requests for consideration
Autumn:
- Staff updated Council on the remediation process and presented next steps
- Gateman-Milloy was retained to conduct site remediation and roof removal, beginning January 2022
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
2022
Winter/Spring/Summer:
- Site remediation and roof removal carried out
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
- Annual delegations at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference with various Provincial ministries to discuss the Community Hub project and submit funding requests for consideration
Autumn:
- Roof removal and remediation is substantially complete
- Request For Proposals for a Fundraising Campaign Feasibility Study closed on September 14; four proposals were received and are under review;
- Staff will update Council and report on next steps on October 11
- On-going litigation related to Expropriation and related legal matters
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Cooper Site Costs Since 2009 (to Sept. 18, 2022) |
The following outline of costs related to the Cooper site since 2009 was prepared from a review of historical accounting transactions from January 1, 2009 through to September 18, 2022.
Cooper Site Costs Since 2009 |
Several opportunities have been offered to provide public feedback:
- Our first Public Open House was held on Saturday June 10, 2017 at the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus. The Open House was attended by approximately 100 people and offered opportunities to engage with Urban Strategies and leave feedback;
- Kitchen Table Kits were made available for download online and at municipal service desks, which allowed residents to draw and write their vision for the future of the Cooper Block and submit them in person or via e-mail;
- Four "Talking Wall" chalkboards were set up on the Cooper Block where residents could leave comments. Staff took pictures of the feedback regularly;
- General comments could be submitted through the City's website and via e-mail.
Urban Strategies summary and analysis of the input received and key considerations for the Master Plan presented to Council on September 11, 2017 is available here:
Urban Strategies Presentation to Council - Summary of Public Feedback, September 11, 2017
Urban Strategies presented a Draft Grand Trunk Master Plan at a Second Public Open House on November 7, 2017. The draft plan is available here: Grand Trunk Community Hub Master Plan - Draft
The presentation is available here: Draft Grand Trunk Master Plan Open House #2 November 7, 2017
The display panels set up at the meeting are available here: Draft Grand Trunk Master Plan Open House #2 Panels
Feedback on the draft Master Plan was received up to Monday December 4th 2017.
Comments were accepted through the City of Stratford website, via email, via telephone at or by mail.
Previous Reports:
For your information, links to a number of public reports related to various aspects of the Cooper Block |
Urban Strategies Presentation to Council - Summary of Public Feedback, September 11, 2017
Urban Strategies Open House Presentation, June 10, 2017
Urban Strategies Open House Panels, June 10, 2017
Presentation - Urban Strategies Cooper Block Master Plan Kick Off Meeting - May 8, 2017
Presentation - Cooper Site Master Plan and Community Hub - April 24, 2017
Report - Cooper Site Master Plan and Community Hub Proposed Public Consultation Process - April 24, 2017
3D Rendering
Birdseye Picture
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