With the GTR committee coming to a close, here’s where the keystone project stands today

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The ad hoc Grand Trunk renewal (GTR) committee, the citizen-led body which has advised Stratford city council on matters pertaining to its keystone revitalization project of the former locomotive shop grounds, will be disbanding next month. Throughout its two-year mandate, the committee has helped shape what will become of the 18-acre site, although when exactly its vision can be realized is still up in the air.

“Together, we’ve built a vision that honours diverse community voices and sets out a practical, yet ambitious roadmap,” Mayor Martin Ritsma shared in a letter directed to the committee at its Aug. 25 meeting. “It’s not easy to steward a project of this scale, but we’ve struck a balance – laying the foundation for a neighbourhood that will rejuvenate this site and become a defining part of Stratford’s next chapter.”

Over two years, the GTR committee has formulated the vision and guiding principles for the project, updated the timeline and provided clarity on questions and misconceptions about the site, and has held regular discussions between its members and guest speakers.

Most recently, the committee – and council – has discussed whether or not to demolish the structure.

The committee has recommended to investigate keeping part of the superstructure (as much as feasible) and to incorporate the community hub portion of the project outside of the superstructure, potentially through renovating the current YMCA building on Downie Street. On July 14, that recommendation was supported by council.

Although consulting firm Svec Group, which has extensive history advising municipal revitalization projects, is investigating and costing out that scenario, the possibility of completely demolishing the structure was discussed at length.

Coun. Brad Beatty was vocal for his desire to demolish the superstructure that meeting.

“My entire time on council, I don't believe there's been any single item I've spoken to, listen to, heard delegations on, reports on, community consultation on, more than this,” Beatty said. “This has been in front of our community for as long as everybody in this gallery, as council and staff, can think back to. … I hate to say this, but we're still here where I was 15 years ago, and the only thing that's gone up is the cost of doing something.

“… It's time to make the slate clean, and for that reason, I'm going to make the motion, mayor, that we choose the option for a complete removal of the superstructure.”

There was some back and forth between council members, but ultimately it was decided to wait and see what Svec Group brings back.

Initial estimates the firm presented to the committee and council had two “bookends” for a community hub which costed between $43 million and $126 million, with the cheaper option to locate the hub outside of the superstructure and the most expensive to build it within the structure.

Theoretically, the cost to completely demolish the structure would be recouped by the price of scrap metal, meaning it would be a break-even venture – although the ground beneath the structure would still need to be remediated.

Additionally, due to the structure’s proximity to the rail tracks, some of the land underneath it would only be viable for certain projects, such as parking.

Although Svec Group is investigating and will be bringing forth its findings to council in the future (expected in late 2025, early 2026), no decision has been made to preserve or demolish the structure yet. That decision will solely be made by council.

Local architect Robert Ritz has been petitioning both council and the committee to preserve the building, arguing that Svec Group has given council a “glass half-empty” scenario.

In a letter written to council, Ritz stated his concern is the city’s consultants are focusing on the superstructure and not the site as a whole.

“The true cost to rehabilitate one of our most significant heritage buildings remains uncertain,” Ritz’s letter reads. “My report used figures from a 2012 structural engineering report, which I extrapolated to 2025 dollars, estimating approximately $9 million for the rehabilitation of the entire building. Interestingly, I noted that the structure could be valued at around $46 million if built today, which represents good value and a solid foundation. I have received a quote to build it today as a pre-engineered structure for $52 million. However, since 2012, the building has deteriorated further, and even more so, without a roof. The question is, how severe has it become, and what is the cost of rehabilitation today? The suggestion is to retain the engineer from 2012 to provide these answers.”

Ritz, later speaking with the Times, said that he is investigating the site through his firm, R. Ritz Architect, in order to convince council and the public that the building should be saved in its entirety. He believes that culturally and financially, it is the avenue forward.

“I’m hoping I can turn council around,” Ritz said, before sharing that he will presenting his own findings with the public once they are realized.

The ad hoc committee next meets on Sept. 15, its last meeting. Paul Parlee, a member of the committee, asked Mayor Martin Ritsma if council is considering extending the committee’s lifespan on Aug. 25.

“At this point, no,” Ritsma replied. “That doesn’t mean they can’t, but at this point no.”

“Our mandate expires the end of September,” Dan Mathieson, chair of the committee, further explained to the Times in a later interview. “It's our hope to be able to bring council recommendations and then leave it with them. If they feel there's a need or a value to extend the committee or to have a new iteration of what the committee could look like, I think many people would continue to want to be engaged, but that will be council's decision.”

The next step for the Grand Trunk site, most immediately, is to activate it. Staff have been investigating how to have the community engage with the site while it is sitting unused. Although they won’t be able to open it up due to safety concerns, staff will be opening up the grounds for partnership.

As announced by the Provocation ideas Festival (PIF), the building will be the backdrop to its Trophy x Dreamweavers event, where local storytellers will regale participants with the site’s history on Oct. 4 and 5.

As apart of the winter festival Lights On Stratford, the iconic heart light piece that migrates around the city year-to-year will be on display on the side of the superstructure, as well.

Aside from site activation, committee member Melanie Hare brought forward the possibility of updating the Grand Trunk Master Plan, a 2018 master document that has guided council and staff in its work. As she told committee members on Aug. 25, what exactly would go into a new plan is fluid, depending on the direction council wants to go in.

Mathieson shared with the Times that updating the master plan would be for council to consider after it has settled on whether to save the superstructure or not.

To view the current master plan in its entirety, and for more information, visit https://engagestratford.ca/grand-trunk-renewal.