First of all, Happy New Year Kingston! For my first post of 2017, I’d like to share a quick preview of what I see as the key city issues and events on the horizon for the coming year.
Defining the Future of Kingston Penitentiary and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour: the current visioning process will be completed early in 2017, after which a final concept plan will come to City Council for approval. This will set the stage for specific development proposals to come forward, while tours of KP continue to draw thousands of visitors to Kingston this coming tourism season.
Decision Point on the Third Crossing: this coming spring City Council will receive the preliminary design as well as updated cost and benefit information that will make the proposed new bridge across the Cataraqui River officially ‘shovel ready.’ At that point Council will be ready to decide whether to proceed with construction of the bridge, contingent on funding from both the provincial and federal governments.
New International Businesses Take Root: this year we look forward to the grand opening of operations for Portugal-based Frulact and the ground breaking of China-based Feihe’s production facility in Kingston. These new international business partners will bring hundreds of jobs to the city and create many new economic development opportunities for Kingston and the surrounding region.
New Trails and Waterfront Investments: Later this spring we will officially open the urban section of the K&P trail in time for Canada’s 150th birthday. The city will also revitalize Richardson Beach and construct a new waterfront pathway behind the Pump House Steam Museum as a first step for the new Waterfront Master Plan.
The Breakout Project: Innovate Kingston invites innovators and creators to converge on Fort Henry May 10 -12th in a competition to develop new ideas and help brand Kingston as a centre of innovation. More information at www.thebreakoutproject.com
Sesquicentennial Celebrations: As Canada’s first capital city, Kingston will be playing a key role in Canada’s 150th festivities, as we celebrate not only our past role in Canada’s history, but also the future. Learn more about Sesquicentennial activities happening in Kingston by visiting the city website at www.cityofkingston.ca/explore/sesquicentennial