Community Design Expectations for the Canal District
Sault Ste. Marie
The west end of downtown Sault Ste. Marie will likely see considerable development in the next
few years. In addition to the improvements at the International Bridge Plaza, Blueforest
Ventures Inc. is moving forward with the redevelopment of the former St. Mary's Paper property, including a possible reuse of two buildings by Algoma Conservatory of Music and postsecondary or other institutional uses. Parks Canada has also prepared plans for the renewal and improvement of its adjacent Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. This combination of initiatives presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to create high quality integrated redevelopment which is both sensitive to and benefits the surrounding area. Building on this interest in the evolving bigger picture, the City and community have assumed the responsibility and opportunity to take a lead role to set the design parameters for development in this entire area to ensure that the best possible overall development is obtained. To this end it was recommended that a series of design principles or a checklist be developed that will meet both the community’s expectations and those of the various development interests Greenberg Consultants was retained to articulate design considerations for this strategic area that would allow for individual development within an overall design framework.