A somewhat confusing picture on the future of Jonas Park was clarified at Tuesday’s (Feb. 20) city council meeting.
Members unanimously agreed to declare certain parcels of land that partially comprise Jonas Park to be declared surplus to the city and those parcels will be sold to Doug Tarry Limited (DTL) for future residential development west of the Elgin Country Railway Museum.
As part of the agreement, the museum had stipulated permanent railway access from Ross Street to the museum be maintained.
To do so, Doug Tarry Limited required parcels of land at the Jonas Street park property. The actual park area at the south end of the parcels will remain intact.
A series of commitments are attached to the sale of the land:
- Restoration of the rail connection between Ross Street and the ECRM transfer table (east side of the museum), via the lands in front of the CASO station and transfer access rights to the ECRM
- Coordinate ownership over the former passenger platform in its entirety with the CASO station ownership
- In cooperation with the city and adjacent landowners, extend Centre Street from Ross Street to CASO Crossing. Upon completion of the Centre Street extension, Doug Tarry Limited will convey the DTL-owned portion of these lands back to the City of St. Thomas
- The re-establishment of the Trans-Canada Trail connection through the project site. Upon completion, DTL commits to conveying the DTL-owned portion of these lands back to the city or the appropriate entity.
- To work with the city and adjacent landowners to explore a new road/corridor access from the project lands to Talbot Street
- To work with the city to restore and/or improve Jonas Park.
In addition, the city requires that the sale of the surplus city-owned properties be conditional on the establishment of a formal agreement stipulating that Doug Tarry Limited shall be responsible for the following:
- Assume all costs associated with the land transfers.
- Confirm and assume all costs associated with possible Trans-Canada Trail realignment and pavilion relocation with the Trans-Canada Corporation.
- Share in costs associated with the completion of a Secondary Plan which will:
- Be led by city staff.
- Include the area bounded by Talbot Street, Ross Street, Wellington Street and CASO Crossing
- Have a robust public engagement process.
- Be adopted prior to the commencement of any area redevelopment.
- Maintain vehicular access to the Centennial Sports Club.
The land sale agreement will also contain a clause stipulating that physical site development must commence within three years of the land sale. If site development has not begun by this date, the city will have the right to purchase the parcels of land for the original sale price.
Jeff Bray, the city’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities in a report to council noted, “From a municipal perspective, the development of these lands that have been vacant for decades presents a unique opportunity to rejuvenate the downtown core, provide additional employment and much needed housing.
Coun. Jeff Kohler called this, “The first step of many to come in the revitalization of downtown.”
Mayor Joe Preston added, “This is the start to the process and we will touch on it many times This is the city being bold with the railway lands.”
