NPC looking for ‘ adaptive re- use’ for power plant

Wayne Thomson would like to see the provincial and federal governments join forces with the Niagara Parks Commission to repurpose the old Toronto Power Generating Station.

“I recall, probably 20 years ago, calling for proposals on that building. It’s, without exception, one of the most historic and architecturally important buildings in Canada,” the veteran Niagara Falls city councillor said during this week’s council meeting where the Niagara Parks Commission updated politicians on its new 10- year strategic plan.

“I’m just wondering what the long- term plan is to try to bring that back to life. It’s falling apart.

“( It) is really sad to see what is happening there. I think most of the proposals we got years ago, everybody wanted a boutique hotel, and nobody up here wanted a boutique hotel, so I’m wondering if you’re thinking about this, what we’re going to do in the future — if you have some plans.”

During her presentation to council, commission chairwoman Janice Thomson said the provincial agency is working on options to stabilize and phasing in adaptive reuse of the historic power- station buildings.

In the past, the commission said it planned to attract investors interested in redeveloping up to four former power- plant buildings in Niagara Falls.

The facilities are in the care and stewardship of Niagara Parks.

The old Toronto Power Generating Station and the Rankine Generating Station ( built for Canadian Niagara Power Co.) are across the street from each other along the Niagara Parkway in Niagara Falls.

There’s also the Ontario Power Company Generating Station, which is the hydro facility in the Niagara Gorge, as well as the Niagara Gate House, which is across from Dufferin Islands.

All of the buildings are now shuttered and are no longer in use.

In the past, the commission said it wanted to retain the heritage, as Niagara Falls has such an important tie to power, and power generation itself.

The Toronto Power Generating Station was built in 1906 and was decommissioned in the 1970s.

Parks Canada designated the building as a national historic site in 1983 for its importance to early power generation and its style of architecture.

“I think the provincial government, federal government and the Niagara Parks Commission should seriously think about everybody joining together and doing something with that wonderful building ( Toronto Power Generating Station) there that is deteriorating,” said Wayne Thomson.

Reegan McCullough, chief executive officer of Niagara Parks, reiterated Janice Thomson’s comments during her presentation that the commission is currently looking at stabilization and adaptive reuse of the power plants that have been decommissioned.

“We are working with the province and have several meetings set up in the new year, where we really want to spend some time driving out the business case for each of those buildings, and of course each of them has individual types of challenges,” he said.

“Some are more deteriorating — the size of them, those kinds of things. At the point that the commission decides to go out to market, we want to make sure we’ve got the solid business case in place that can attract the kind of investment we’re looking for.”

McCullough said they would be “very large” projects that will require “significant dollars.” rspiteri@postmedia.com twitter. com/ rayspiteri