Grand Trunk Renewal

If you have not been able to see inside of the Grand Trunk Building, then you now have a way of being in the building from almost anywhere.

Artas Engineering & Design made a virtual tour of the building, and now it’s available to the public. You can find it here: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=VPiAPBnXURA

Once the page loads, you will find yourself hovering over the Grand Trunk Building, then you will zoom in and find yourself directly on the building on the second level.

From that point, you can use your mouse or other navigational tools to move around the entire building.

In this way, you can experience and understand the building and the space – without actually physically being there.

We want you to see it and experience it because – like the entire Grand Trunk site – so much can happen in this place. As you move around in the virtual space, you can get a sense for the size, height and possibilities of the building.

The building, which is an unique historic building superstructure that was used for steam locomotive repair from the 1870s to the 1960s – tells the story of Stratford’s industrial growth and prosperity.

Although it looks very old and worn, the Grand Trunk Building was inspected by structural engineers and found to be in very good condition. The steel frame of the building will last for a very long time and meets the standards for a stand-alone building of its type.

The building and the larger site presents unprecedented opportunities for Stratford and its residents. It is the biggest undeveloped site in the downtown – by a considerable amount.

The City prepared the 2018 Master Plan for the Grand Trunk Renewal Site which provides a framework for phased reinvestment of the building and the site. The Master Plan calls for the building to be adapted for new uses and not be demolished.

For answers to frequently-asked questions about the Site and its future, you can access the FAQs here: https://engagestratford.ca/grand-trunk-renewal/widgets/165911/faqs

Renewing and revitalizing the Grand Trunk site will be a huge, long-term project. It is crucial that the community be involved in shaping what happens here. The 2018 Master Plan for the site contains a Vision and Guiding Principles that is being refreshed to ensure it reflects the goals and principles that will guide redevelopment of the Grand Trunk site. The Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee has prepared a set of draft guiding principles you can read them below and comment through the survey on this site!

WHY:
The Grand Trunk Site and building will be transformed into a generational asset that will support Stratford’s goals of being a great place to live — a prosperous, inclusive, sustainable, and welcoming community to everyone.

The Grand Trunk Renewal process will begin by updating the project’s original Vision Statement and Guiding Principles, which will outline what outcomes should be achieved in developing the site and the values that should guide the development’s decision-making.

HOW:
We will go about the Grand Trunk Renewal in ways that:

• Honour our Truth and Reconciliation responsibilities
• Build on Stratford's many strengths
• Leverage the City’s infrastructure investment
• Follow a sound business plan & financial model
• Contribute to Stratford’s prosperity
• Ensure the Grand Trunk site welcomes and inspires us
• Adopt new and innovative approaches to building community
• Align with Stratford’s priorities and strategies
• Cultivate positive relationships with partners

WHAT:
The Grand Trunk Site will be:

SUSTAINABLE + FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE

Create a More Sustainable & Resilient Community

The Grand Trunk development will ensure environmental, social, and financial sustainability by:

• Adopting leading sustainability technologies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions
• Generating new revenue for the City
• Pursuing partnerships that serve the community

CELEBRATE PAST + FUTURE FORWARD
Design with a Focus on the Past, Present, and Future

Our approach will encourage designs that honour the past, address current needs, and prepare for the future. The story of Stratford’s community, resilience and reinvention will be reflected by:

• Celebrating the site’s history and heritage, including new uses for the Grand Trunk Building
• Responding to current needs with forward-looking solutions
• Creating benefits for the entire community, Downtown, and Grand Trunk site
• Ensuring that buildings and spaces can adapt to changes in both our community and the climate

INSPIRING + EXHILARATING
Create a dynamic new place and experience in Stratford

Transformation of the Grand Trunk Site will harness the energy of this community to create a new place for all to explore and enjoy by:

• Fostering a sense of welcoming and belonging
• Promoting playfulness, curiosity, and gathering
• Celebrating and inspiring innovation, culture, and creativity
• Creating new energy, experiences, and opportunities

DISTINCT + DIVERSE
Design distinct urban spaces and places

Utilize the site to offer a new and exciting urban environment by:

• Incorporating higher-density buildings to provide for diverse community needs, such as housing for all ages and abilities
• Celebrating the distinct attributes of the Grand Trunk site and its history
• Designing outdoor spaces to be enjoyable in all seasons and for all people
• Creating transit-friendly development that makes safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages

INCLUSIVE + CONNECTED
Create a Great Place to Live and Support Wellbeing

Within the Grand Trunk site, create new urban housing options that foster community by:

• Offering suitable, attainable, and affordable housing options
• Including amenities for everyday life, such as vibrant public spaces, access to shopping, services, and multiple transportation options
• Building safe and inclusive environments that are welcoming to all
• Connecting the Grand Trunk site to the downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods

INTEGRATED + MULTI-FUNCTIONAL
Create integrated, multi-purpose spaces and places

Optimize this public land with a vibrant mix of uses across the Grand Trunk Site, within buildings, and in each phase of development, including:

• Residential, commercial, retail, and institutional spaces
• Community spaces for recreation, culture, health and wellness, and collaboration
• Public spaces that encourage community gathering and celebration
  
  

THRIVE + VIBE
Create Cohesive and Vibrant Spaces

Ensure spaces are vital, vibrant, and active by:

• Offering options for living, learning, health, wellness, recreation, and entrepreneurship
• Creating spaces that support social connection and inter-generational relationships
• Facilitating communal gathering spaces

Draft guiding principles for the Grand Trunk Renewal Project were presented to Stratford City Council on Monday, April 22nd. The Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee prepared the draft guiding principles and aim to set out the high-level outcomes for the project. You can read the Council report here on the Council Calendar here: https://pub-stratford.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=5723

Thank you to everyone who attended the GRANDTrunk Dialogue 1 event on March 26, 2024 at the Rotary Complex. There were over 120 attendees and a great deal of energy and excitement as we explored together the potential of this project. A special thanks to members of the Ad Hoc Committee who spoke at the event: Georgia Neely, John Kastner, Joani Gerber, Melanie Hare and Trudy Jonkman. A video of the event will soon be available and you can find the information from the evening in the For Reference section of this page.

Some recent coverage in the local news about the upcoming GRANDTrunk Dialogue Events:

• Grand Trunk community events another step in complicated redevelopment, The Stratford Beacon Herald on March 13, 2024
• Melanie Hare for the Ad Hoc Committee for the Grand Trunk Renewal, MyStratfordNow

For more information, you can read the media release on the City of Stratford website.

Please Join Us to Discuss the next steps in the renewal of the Grand Trunk site

The Ad Hoc Grand Trunk Renewal Committee will be hosting a series of community events this spring to engage with residents and start a dialogue on refreshing the Master Plan’s Vision and Guiding Principles for the site. The Master Plan is a high-level plan that shows the overall direction and objectives of developing the site, its Vision is a way of articulating what should be achieved by the development and Guiding principles are goals and values that should guide decision-making in developing the site.

These meetings will be an opportunity to provide an update on the Grand Trunk Renewal process and engage the community on a refreshed Vision and Guiding Principles for the site. The refreshed Vision and Guiding Principles will become the foundation for moving forward to implementation and to setting the stage to bring on partners to unlock the remarkable potential of this 18-acre City-owned site in the downtown.

You can learn more and register for this free event below:

GRANDTrunk Dialogue 1 – Where are we and where do we go from here? The (Grand Trunk Renewal Project) process, March 26, 2024, 6:30-8:30 pm, Hall A, Rotary Complex

An opportunity to learn about the history of the site, where we are today and the process and work to date of the Grand Trunk Ad Hoc Committee. More details and registration information can be found on the Eventbrite page.

GRANDTrunk Renewal Dialogue 2 - What can we Learn from Elsewhere: Exploring the Potential Today April 13, 2024 2-4 pm, Auditorium, City Hall

Join us for a panel of speakers who have been involved in significant and impactful urban revitalization projects from places such as downtown Guelph, Niagara Falls new Exchange project and Kitchener’s Tannery and Breithaupt Block. Learn and ask questions about how we can apply their successes and learn from their challenges for the Grand Trunk site. More details and registration information can be found on the Eventbrite page.

Connor Luczka offered an overview of the February 20, 2024 committee meeting. You can read it on the Stratford Today website here.

Council endorsed the Committee's work plan at its February 12th meeting. You can find the work plan here in the report. The primary focus is updating the Master Plan’s Vision and Guiding Principles – which were originally shaped by research, planning work and public consultation done in 2016-2017.

The Committee is planning a series of community events in the spring and summer, and anticipates bringing a final vision and guiding principles forward to Council in the late summer.