Welland seeing record growth
Mayor expects more in terms of development, housing and job creation in coming year
The Rose City will continue to bloom throughout 2019 and beyond, said Mayor Frank Campion.
He said Welland’s short term future is really just a continuation of where it has come from in the last couple of years.
“Nothing has stopped, there is a considerable amount of interest in the city on the housing side and the economic development side. It’s ongoing and it’s going to accelerate,” the mayor during an interview with The Tribune.
Welland just came off of a record year of building activity and residential growth. Data recently provided by building and planning division showed 802 building permits representing a construction value of $128,421,798 were issued, and the number of housing units constructed nearly doubled, with 400 built in 2018 as compared to 197 in 2017.
Campion, elected back in October for a second term, expects to see more industrial development, more job creation and more housing growth.
“There’s continued (residential) development, properties are selling. You’ll see more excess city lands for sale … you may see something within the next week.”
Examples of the future growth include proposed new subdivisions and development in the city such as a 37-unit condominium complex, with units starting around $375,000, on the site of the former Welland South Public School, off Broadway, being proposed by Cairnwood Homes.
That proposal, like one last year for the former Hunters Pointe Golf Course, which is looking at 1,400 residential units, split between single-detached homes, townhouses and condo buildings with ground-floor commercial space, concerns neighbours over the size and whether they can be supported with the current infrastructure.
Campion believes something will be built at Hunters Pointe in the future.
He also said the Cairnwood proposal should be back at some point with a staff report.
“I think it’s (Hunters Pointe) been put on semi-hold as they try to work on issues brought forward by residents in the area. It will be back at some point … but council expects the serious issues to be dealt with.”
When it comes to industrial development in the city, Campion said Welland is looking for everything.
“We really want to have a diversified economy, because we saw the effects of not having diversification when all of the plants shut down at the same time. It’s important we look at large, medium and small industry.”
The city has been successful in the last few years in attracting a number of new companies, including Innio (formerly GE), Northern Gold Foods, Welded Tubes and more through its development team and council working together.
Welland is on a short list of cities Chinese glass manufacturing firm Xinyi Glass is considering for a new, large facility.
Campion said it’s great to have large companies like Xinyi looking but added its equally important to have smaller companies with fewer employees, something with six to eight people bringing jobs to Welland.
“We’re after everything so that we’ll have a great mix in the city.”
When two new buildings are completed on Enterprise Drive, just off Highway 140, the mayor said Welland will have three food processing facilities in the area.
“I like to see those … they’re high-tech companies, with good paying jobs and they’re stable — people eat.”
Advanced manufacturing jobs, like those at Innio, which produces state-of-the-art gas engines, fits in with the workforce in Welland and with Niagara College’s ability to train people.
“We can attract almost any type of industry here. I’m looking to work closely with the college over the next six to eight months. I’ve been talking with people there about the unique programs it has that you can’t get in other areas.”
Campion said the city can reach out to those industries that align with college programs.
As the city attracts more industry, it will look to lands along the Highway 140 and the Welland Canal — the working canal that is — to expand.
There have been unofficial talks with Port Colborne, which shares the same corridor and which has looked to lands along the east side of the canal along Highway 140 as a place for a possible industrial park.
“I think those talks will become more formal. We’re going south and they’re heading north. What’s good for Port Colborne is also good for Welland … if a company were to land in Port Colborne it really helps the entire region.”
Campion said now that southern tier mayors are settling in at the region, he’ll look to talk with them and find ways to partner that will benefit everyone.
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. has lands along the canal it does not need, said the mayor.
“We’ve identified properties we’re interested in and we’ve met with the Seaway and federal Transport Minister (Marc) Garneau. The lands fit in very neatly with moving goods programs the federal government has … it’s a key area for us.”
One of the mayor’s goals over the next few years is to have some sort of port established along the canal in Welland as there are industries in the area that move goods internationally. A port along the canal could also help attract those type of industries.
Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part interview with Mayor Frank Campion. Part two will run Monday and will look at how the city can grow in regards to tourism and having more for residents to do in the city.