New developments on track in Railway City and more coming down the line
Economic engines could be humming a little louder soon in St. Thomas and neighbouring communities to the east, thanks to recent land deals.
Former railway lands in St. Thomas’s downtown are being transformed into a residential development. Mayor Joe Preston tells CTV News London he anticipates low-rise apartments surrounded by greenspace.
“We’re taking up what is currently a brownfield space, old railway land that’s got some issues, and whenever you can trade that for new housing and park space, what a great win for the city.”
CTV News London has learned that developer Doug Tarry Homes has purchased eight of 16 acres of land from the Elgin County Railway Museum. The land itself is located downtown between Wellington and Talbot streets.
Matt Janes, museum board vice president, said the sale will help the museum with capital costs, while at the same time help preserve St. Thomas’s rail history.
“It’s an important first step for the museum to start the process of restoring the building. And in addition to that we think it’s a really good community aspect too because the housing that will be built here is really needed in the city.”
In an unrelated development, the Minstry of Transportation (MTO) has released lands along Highway 3 east of St. Thomas, that had been set aside decades ago for a bypass route, which never did come to pass.
Elgin County Warden Tom Marks said this opens the door for development opportunities that could not happen while the land was being held by the MTO.
“The corridor between St. Thomas and Aylmer. Obviously the airport’s there, another little hidden gem. You’ve got good roads, you’ve got a labour force close by. It’s got all the services. If you’re an industry or commercial, why wouldn’t you look there.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.