Cooper Block

About the Grand Trunk Renewal Project

Inside view of large industrial building, with rafters open to the sky

The city is undertaking a major, multi-phase initiative to redevelop the former Grand Trunk Railway site into a vibrant, mixed-use area. The project will transform and rejuvenate this culturally and historically significant property in the heart of downtown, which is currently underused.

The property, also known as the “Cooper Site”, is one of the largest remaining parcels of municipality-owned land in the core. That means the City Council has a generational opportunity to shape Stratford’s future. When complete, the new block will feature a variety of community-focused improvements. Formal planning includes housing, community-use spaces, and elements for a vibrant public life. These will come together in one new, modern neighbourhood, boosting economic development and cultural activity in the city.

Advancing the Grand Trunk Renewal Project directly supports the Council’s strategic priority to “Thoughtfully Develop Our City.”

In fact, it fits into the overall municipal objectives of creating a vibrant urban environment while preserving green spaces, promoting active transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering community. The development and resulting neighbourhood will play a large part in Stratford’s downtown long-term vitality and growth.

Coming in 2026

City Council is considering three project pathways:

Determine the components and investment needed for a shared community facility on the site. The primary partners for the facility are the YMCA of Three Rivers, the Stratford Public Library, and the City of Stratford.
Launch a “market sounding” process that assesses initial interest in the site’s potential from select investors and developers. This “sounding” helps confirm details needed for partnerships and a comprehensive public procurement process for the property’s development later (Expressions of Interest, etc.) Housing and the structure are core components of the sounding process.
During a city-wide parking study, assess the Grand Trunk site’s parking and future transportation/mobility needs for the new neighbourhood. The results will contribute to the future property development plan.

Accomplishments in 2025

The Ad-Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee’s collaborative work concluded with:
- Recommendations for revising the site’s Master Plan from 2018, based on the city’s evolving needs
- Defining the project’s Vision and Guiding Principles, reflecting community aspirations for the property. The public expects meaningful housing, mobility, cultural spaces, public access, community engagement, and development based on strategic partnerships. The vision and principles are guideposts for future proposals and agreements.
- Strengthened stakeholder relations and public engagement through a variety of activities.
Confirmed with Council that the new neighbourhood’s core features are residential/housing, a shared community facility, outdoor amenity space, and parking.
Partnership discussions began for the shared community facility and its early concepts and needs. This work continues in 2026.
A successful and free public place-making event was held on the site grounds near the structure. During Trophy X Dream Weavers, local storytellers interacted with listeners to spark imagination and stir feelings of hope. Participants expressed support for having similar activities on-site in the future.
The city partnered with Destination Stratford to display their large, colour-lit “heart” on the front of the GTR structure. The borrowed LED sculpture illuminates the site’s potential to grow into a place for cultural activities. The heart is normally part of the Lights On Stratford festival, staying in their office in the off-season.

Stay Informed

We want to hear from you! Stay involved, informed and join the public conversation on the project. Expanded project information is on the Engage Stratford/GTRP site. There you will find useful information, such as the project’s background and a collection of related public documents.

Grand Trunk Master Plan

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.

Prior to presentation of the Master Plan to Council in 2018, a number of opportunities were offered for the public to provide feedback on the draft plan, including open houses, kitchen table kits and "Talking Wall" chalkboards set up on the Cooper Block for residents to leave comments

The summary of public feedback was presented to Council on September 11, 2017. Documents related to the public feedback received can be found in the drop-down menu below.

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 permanent 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

Cooper Site Costs Since 2009 (to December 31, 2025)

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 December 31, 2025.

Cooper Site Costs Since 2009