Collingwood Grain Terminals

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Photo by Dave West Photography

The Town seeks to support a healthy, strong, and vibrant community that recognizes the value of its history and heritage, while responsibly managing for a solid fiscal future. Town Council is deeply interested in the Community’s input on the Grain terminals and wishes to consider local beliefs and desires for the Terminals’ future and the future of the Collingwood Waterfront

Collingwood’s active harbour is a spectacular asset that contributes to Collingwood’s reputation for offering a high quality of life. The Harbour is also host to the iconic Collingwood Grain Terminals.

The Collingwood Grain Terminals (Terminals)

Photo by Dave West Photography

The Town seeks to support a healthy, strong, and vibrant community that recognizes the value of its history and heritage, while responsibly managing for a solid fiscal future. Town Council is deeply interested in the Community’s input on the Grain terminals and wishes to consider local beliefs and desires for the Terminals’ future and the future of the Collingwood Waterfront

Collingwood’s active harbour is a spectacular asset that contributes to Collingwood’s reputation for offering a high quality of life. The Harbour is also host to the iconic Collingwood Grain Terminals.

The Collingwood Grain Terminals (Terminals) are an iconic symbol in the community that tells the story of the Town’s industrial roots. A key goal of the Community Based Strategic Plan identifies Public Connections to a Revitalized World-Class Waterfront, of which the Terminals and spit are a prominent part. The Town of Collingwood visualizes a Heritage Drive that is a destination for locals and visitors alike, energized and animated through linkages across the development, that redevelops, respects, and celebrates the historical significance of the Terminals. The Town’s Waterfront Master Plan identifies the Pier as Collingwood’s landmark feature, with the Terminals and marina contributing to the overall experience in the area. The Waterfront Master Plan aims to introduce a range of destinations and activities to improve the walking experience for pedestrians and create functional and comfortable spaces for hosting public Town events.

In recognition of the significant financial and historical value of the Terminals and the magnitude of the project, Council directed staff to retain an Advisor for the project. KPMG Consulting was successful in the open bid process for this role. In 2021, the Town completed a Built Heritage Assessment to assist with informing future steps in this process. The Built Heritage Assessment provided valuable information on the cultural and historical value of the Terminals and was used in developing evaluation criteria and Guiding Principles for the revitalization partner process. Through public engagement conducted during the Built Heritage Assessment, a strong local connection was identified between many current, former, and some new residents to the preservation and revitalization of the Grain Terminals.

In 2022, following an extensive procurement process, Streetcar Developments Inc. & Dream Unlimited Corp. was recommended as the successful proponent to be considered to move forward with their proposal to revitalize the Collingwood Grain Terminals.

The submitted proposal outlined a commitment to developing their vision within the guiding principles established by the Town along with an extensive community engagement process. Some of these principles include structural preservation of the terminals, optimized public access to the spit and to energize and animate Heritage Drive.

Proposal Overview:

  • Re-development of Heritage Drive into 4 distinct but harmonious nodes, each providing significant public realm enhancements and access.
  • Preservation and adaptive reuse of the Terminals through the creation of a full- service hotel, including restaurants and events spaces, that highlight the heritage attributes of the building and provide public access to the entire Terminal building.
  • The addition of a new residential component to the east of the Terminals.
  • Public realm enhancements throughout the Spit, including new connections to the water, a reimagined Millennium Park, new trails and walkways, and a renewed focus on recreational and cultural activities for year-round public enjoyment.
  • New marine services building and facilities will address the needs of the existing key stakeholders on the Spit and will transform the Collingwood Harbour into a marine destination.

Project Guiding Principles:

In the development of the criteria that would be used to prequalify and score the final submissions, the project team used the Collingwood Terminals White Paper, Built Heritage Assessment, Waterfront Masterplan, Community Based Strategic Plan, Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan, and several other key documents that were created through public consultation.

The Guiding Principles formed the basis of the proposal evaluation criteria used by the Evaluation Team.

Engagement Opportunities:
The Town of Collingwood will offer meaningful two-way communication with residents. Our accessible community will empower all to participate in discussions, engage in activities, obtain information, and provide feedback and opinions.

Further Public Engagement Opportunities will be posted on the timeline on the right side of this page and shared widely via our website, Facebook, Twitter and Town Pages in the Collingwood Connection.

History of the Grain Terminals:

  • Collingwood’s industrial history is a foundational pillar for its strong present. The Grain Terminals facilitated Collingwood’s evolving role in the shipping and transportation of goods throughout the Great Lakes and beyond.
  • Shipbuilding was one of the biggest industries that operated in the harbour for 103 years (1883 –1986) and employed over 1,000 people at its height.
  • The pier was constructed as a gateway to the Great Lakes with the Ontario, Simcoe, and Huron Union Railway Company (inc. 1853) building a railway that connected Toronto with the Great Lakes. It was the first of its kind to carry both passenger and freight traffic.
  • The Terminals silos were built over 30 consecutive days beginning May 25, 1929, with concrete being continuously poured for 24 hours/day. A total of 40 men built the Terminals at a cost of $800,000, with the marine tower and warehouse tower completed after the silos were poured.
  • The completed terminals had 126 silos with a capacity of 2,000,000 bushels of grain.
  • The first ship to unload at the terminals was the steamer Minesing from Chicago with 275,000 bushels of corn in September 1929 (nine months after construction began)
  • The last rail cars were filled for shipment from the Terminals in 1986.
  • Between 1986-1997, the Terminals were privately owned by Frank and Fred Hamilton.
  • The Town of Collingwood purchased the Terminals in 1997
  • In 2000, Millennium Park was created on the north side of the Terminals building

  • Grain Terminals Plan Unveiling

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    On Monday, March 27 at 5:00 p.m., Streetcar Developments Inc. & Dream Unlimited Corp. will present their vision for the Grain Terminals in Council Chambers. Stream the meeting live on the Town's YouTube channel.

  • Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Project Council to Consider Proposal from Successful Proponent

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    Following an extensive procurement process, Streetcar Developments Inc. & Dream Unlimited Corp. has been recommended as the successful proponent to be considered to move forward with their proposal to revitalize the Collingwood Grain Terminals.

    The submitted proposal outlined a commitment to developing their vision within the guiding principles established by the Town along with an extensive community engagement process. Some of these principles include structural preservation of the terminals, optimized public access to the spit and to energize and animate Heritage Drive.

    Following the closing of the RFP, Town staff completed a compliance review with the independent Fairness Monitor, followed by technical evaluation, and a closed session presentation with the evaluation committee which was observed by Council.

    “The Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Project is such a significant undertaking, likely one of the most impactful that Collingwood has seen since the Terminals were erected in 1929. Months of planning, reviews, public engagement, and evaluation to ensure the desires of the community are met for the Terminals’ future and the future of the Collingwood Waterfront,” says Sonya Skinner, Town of Collingwood Chief Administrative Officer.

    “Our proposal enables public access to the Spit, the Bay and the Terminal Building itself in ways that would not have been previously possible. The Terminal building is not just being preserved, its being infused with new life becoming a cultural, recreational, and economic community asset and a beacon for sustainability for the Town of Collingwood,” states Les Mallins, president of Streetcar Developments Inc.

    The proponent summarizes their proposal as follows:

    The Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Project presents a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate how a public-private partnership can create a dynamic, high-quality year-round destination that will thoughtfully re-adapt and honour Collingwood’s beloved landmark. Our proposal includes the following highlights:

    • Preservation and adaptive reuse of the Terminals through the creation of a full-service and authentic boutique hotel, including restaurants and events spaces, that highlight the heritage attributes of the building and provide public access to the entire Terminal building.
    • Public realm enhancements throughout the Spit, including new connections to the water, a reimagined Millennium Park, new trails and walkways, and a renewed focus on recreational and cultural activities for year-round public enjoyment.
    • New marina building and facilities [In Collaboration with the Town of Collingwood and pending consultation and future Council direction], which will address the needs of the existing key stakeholders on the Spit and will transform the Collingwood Harbour into a marine destination unmatched on Georgian Bay and beyond.

    Council will provide direction on next steps during the Council meeting to be held Thursday, August 18th. If Council awards the project to the recommended proponent, the bidder and staff will develop a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the various terms and conditions of the arrangement. The public consultation strategy developed by the proponent would commence shortly thereafter.

    For more information of the RFP process, see the latest staff report:
    C2022-25 Collingwood Grain Terminals

    C2022-25 Grain Terminals Revitalization Presentation

  • RFP Extension Granted for Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Project

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    The deadline for pre-qualified proponents to submit proposals for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization project has been extended by one business day.


    In an abundance of fairness and due to the widespread impact of the recent internet outage, the original deadline of Friday, July 22, 2022 has been updated to Monday, July 25, 2022 at 3:30 p.m.

    Three proponents were pre-qualified in May 2022:

    • Diamante Urban Corporation
    • Fram Building Group Ltd.
    • Streetcar Developments Inc. & Dream Unlimited Corp.

    Each proponent has outlined a commitment to developing a vision aligned with guiding principles established by the Town and incorporating community feedback. Some of these principles include structural preservation of the terminals in some form, optimized public access, and to energize and animate Heritage Drive.

    Following the new deadline of July 25, 2022, Town staff will complete a compliance review of RFP documents received with the independent Fairness Monitor, followed by a technical evaluation. Proponents that meet the established criteria will advance to the interview stage of the process. To uphold the integrity of the RFP, proponents are not permitted to engage with the public until the successful proponent is determined. Once Council awards the project to the successful proponent, the proponent will be responsible for implementing their public consultation strategy.

    The Town anticipates announcing the selected proponent in August 2022.

    Learn more about the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization and the processes taken to date at the Town’s Engage Page https://engage.collingwood.ca/collingwood-grain-terminals.

    Background

    The Town of Collingwood is seeking a visionary partner and/or developer to revitalize the unique property that is home to the Collingwood Grain Terminals and the surrounding spit land on Heritage Drive. This is an opportunity to repurpose and reimagine the historical waterfront property. The Town is committed to respecting the local heritage of the Terminals by preserving the Terminals in some form, while also ensuring the surrounding land encourages public access to the waterfront for the people that live, work, and play here.

    Extensive public engagement has been undertaken regarding the Collingwood Grain Terminals, through the Waterfront Master Plan, Terminals White Paper, and the Built Heritage Assessment. This undertaking demonstrated a strong local connection between many current, former, and new residents to the preservation and revitalization of the Grain Terminals.

    This unique opportunity awaits a partner and/or developer to share their vision to transform this landmark and surrounding lands to create a destination for residents and tourists. There is so much potential for bold concepts that energize and animate the site while respecting, celebrating and preserving the historical significance of the Terminals.

  • 3 Proponents shortlisted to submit Request for Proposals for the Collingwood Grain Terminals revitalization project

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    Following extensive evaluations in the pre-qualification stage, 3 Proponents will move through to the Request for Proposal phase of the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization.

    The 3 Proponents are:

    • Diamante Urban Corporation

    • Fram Building Group Ltd.

    • Streetcar Developments Inc. & Dream Unlimited Corp.

    Each of the three proponents have outlined a commitment to developing their vision within the guiding principles established by the Town, incorporating community feedback. Some of these principles include structural preservation of the terminals in some form, optimized public access and to energize and animate Heritage Drive.

    Six submissions were received following the Call for Interested Parties for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Opportunity at the time of closing on April 6, 2022.

    The Request for Pre-Qualifications (RFPQ) evaluation included review all of the submissions for compliance with the independent Fairness Monitor (RFP Solutions), followed by a technical evaluation of each compliant submission relative to the criteria set out in the Request for Pre-Qualifications (RFPQ).

    The Request for Proposal (RFP) documents will be sent to the proponents later this week. After the RFP closes around the end of July, Town staff will complete a compliance review with the independent Fairness Monitor, followed by technical evaluation, and those meeting the criteria will be advanced to the interview stage. To uphold the integrity of the RFP, proponents are not permitted to engage with the public until the successful proponent is determined. Once Council awards the project to the successful bidder, the bidder will be responsible for implementing their public consultation strategy.

    The Town anticipates the selection of the preferred proponent will take place in August 2022.

    For more information of the RFP process, see the latest staff report.

    Background

    The Town of Collingwood is seeking a visionary partner and/or developer to revitalize this unique property that is home to the Collingwood Grain Terminals and the surrounding spit land on Heritage Drive. There is an opportunity to repurpose and reimagine the historical waterfront property. The Town is committed to respecting the local heritage of the Terminals by preserving the Terminals in some form, while also ensuring the surrounding land encourages public access to the waterfront for the people that live, work, and play here.

    There has been extensive public engagement regarding the Collingwood Grain Terminals, such as through the Waterfront Master Plan, Terminals White Paper and the Built Heritage Assessment. This engagement demonstrated there is a strong local connection between many current, former and some new residents to the preservation and revitalization of the Grain Terminals.

    This unique opportunity awaits a partner and/or developer to share their vision to transform this landmark and surrounding lands to create a destination for residents and tourists. There is so much potential for bold concepts that energize and animate the site while respecting, celebrating and preserving the historical significance of the Terminals.



  • 6 Submissions were received for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Request for Pre-Qualifications

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    The Town is pleased to announce that the 'Call to Interested Parties' for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Opportunity received six (6) submissions at the time of closing on April 6, 2022. “We know that our community and Council have a great vision for the Grain Terminals Revitalization as a show piece to our waterfront, and we are thrilled to see the interest received from 6 proponents. It’s a positive milestone in this project”, said Chief Administrative Officer Sonya Skinner.

    The next steps in the process is to review all of the submissions for compliance with the independent Fairness Monitor (RFP Solutions), followed by a technical evaluation of each compliant submission relative to the criteria set out in the Request for Pre-Qualifications (RFPQ).

    The successful Pre-Qualified Proponents will then be invited to participate in the second stage of this process, the Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP is anticipated to be released in mid-April 2022 and will proceed until mid-July 2022.

    The Town anticipates the selection of the preferred Proponent will take place in August 2022 after detailed evaluation of the Proposals.

    For more information of the RFP process, see the latest staff report

    Background

    The Town of Collingwood is seeking a visionary partner and/or developer to revitalize this unique property that is home to the Collingwood Grain Terminals and the surrounding spit land on Heritage Drive. There is an opportunity to repurpose and reimagine the historical waterfront property. The Town is committed to respecting the local heritage of the Terminals by preserving the Terminals in some form, while also ensuring the surrounding land encourages public access to the waterfront for the people that live, work, and play here.

    There has been extensive public engagement regarding the Collingwood Grain Terminals, such as through the Waterfront Master Plan, Terminals White Paper and the Built Heritage Assessment. This engagement demonstrated there is a strong local connection between many current, former and some new residents to the preservation and revitalization of the Grain Terminals.

    This unique opportunity awaits a partner and/or developer to share their vision to transform this landmark and surrounding lands to create a destination for residents and tourists. There is so much potential for bold concepts that energize and animate the site while respecting, celebrating and preserving the historical significance of the Terminals.

  • Special Council Meeting - March 31, 2022

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    A Special Meeting of Council is scheduled for Thursday, February 10th at 10:00 a.m. for Council to participate in a Grain Terminal Revitalization, Infrastructure Development & Alternative Financing Advisory Services Workshop. There is an opportunity for any public wishing to speak to the topic of the Grain Terminals during this Special Meeting, under the delegation section of the agenda. View full agenda here: https://collingwood.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Id=1071

    Staff Report: C2022-18 RFP Process Grain Terminals Revitalization

    KPMG - Collingwood Grain Terminals - Public Council Briefing

  • Call to Interested Parties for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization

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    The 'Call to Interested Parties' for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Opportunity is now available on Biddingo at: FIN2022-009PQ Call to Interested Parties for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization

    The Town of Collingwood is seeking a visionary partner and/or developer to revitalize this unique property that is home to the Collingwood Grain Terminals and the surrounding spit land on Heritage Drive. There is an opportunity to repurpose and reimagine the historical waterfront property. The Town is committed to respecting the local heritage of the Terminals by preserving the Terminals in some form, while also ensuring the surrounding land encourages public access to the waterfront for the people who live, work, and play here.

    There has been extensive public engagement regarding the Collingwood Grain Terminals such as through the Waterfront Master Plan and the Built Heritage Assessment. This engagement demonstrated there is a strong local connection between many current, former and some new residents to the preservation and revitalization of the Grain Terminals.

    This unique opportunity awaits a partner and/or developer to share their vision to transform this landmark and surrounding land to create a destination for residents and tourists. There is so much potential for bold concepts that energize and animate the site while respecting, celebrating and preserving the historical significance of the Terminals in some form.

    Interested developers/partners are invited to participate in the first step, the RFPQ process. View details here: FIN2022-009PQ Call to Interested Parties for the Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization

    Successfully pre-qualified bidders will be invited to participate in the second step of this process, the Request For Proposal (RFP).


  • Collingwood Grain Terminals Revitalization Opportunity – FIN2022-009PQ Request For Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) Coming Soon!

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    The Town of Collingwood will be seeking a visionary partner and/or developer to revitalize this unique property that is home to the Collingwood Grain Terminals and the surrounding spit land on Heritage Drive. There is an opportunity to repurpose and reimagine the historical waterfront property. The Town is committed to respecting the local heritage of the Terminals by preserving the Terminals in some form, while also ensuring the surrounding land encourages public access to the waterfront for the people who live, work, and play here.

    There has been extensive public engagement regarding the Collingwood Grain Terminals such as through the Waterfront Master Plan and the Built Heritage Assessment. This engagement demonstrated there is a strong local connection between many current, former and some new residents to the preservation and revitalization of the Grain Terminals.

    This unique opportunity awaits a partner and/or developer to share their vision to transform this landmark and surrounding land to create a destination for residents and tourists. There is so much potential for bold concepts that energize and animate the site while respecting, celebrating and preserving the historical significance of the Terminals in some form.

    Interested developers/partners are invited to participate in the first step, the RFPQ process. The RFPQ document is planned to be issued to open market by March 2, 2022 through www.biddingo.com/collingwood. If want to be notified when this opportunity goes live please register here: https://portal.biddingo.com/landingpage/collingwood/bid/1/11003111/36690128/verification

    Successfully pre-qualified bidders will be invited to participate in the second step of this process, the Request For Proposal (RFP).


  • Grain Terminal Revitalization, Infrastructure Development & Alternative Financing Advisory Services Workshop

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    A Special Meeting of Council is scheduled for Thursday, February 10th at 10:00 a.m. for Council to participate in a Grain Terminal Revitalization, Infrastructure Development & Alternative Financing Advisory Services Workshop. There is an opportunity for any public wishing to speak to the topic of the Grain Terminals during this Special Meeting, under the delegation section of the agenda. View full agenda here: https://collingwood.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Id=1013

    Staff Report: CCS2022-03 Grain Terminals Revitalization

    KPMG Presentation

  • Grain Terminals Revitalization

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    The Town has retained KPMG consulting (“Advisor”) to provide comprehensive advisory services for the potential redevelopment and revitalization of the Collingwood Grain Terminals (“Terminals”) and the surrounding lands (“spit”), seeking to achieve the Town’s policy objectives for this area. This includes comprehensive advisory services ranging from procurement planning and project implementation, pending Council approval of the project.

    The Advisor will provide best in class advice and guide the Town in preparing for an open market competitive bid process to attract innovative opportunities for the redevelopment of the Terminals and inform the development of the surrounding spit area. The Advisor will be a critical contributor to the engagement with potential developers and/or partners for the development of this project and is an expert in unique funding and collaboration approaches including a public-private partnership (“P3”) delivery model or like alternatives. The Advisor will provide strategic advice through the competitive procurement process, and the design, construction, and transition phases, as required.

    The Town is intending to hold an open market competitive bid process to engage potential developers and/or partners for the revitalization of the Collingwood Grain Terminals and, through this, contribute to the revisioning of the surrounding spit area. The Terminals in their current form, may or may not be part of that development, but it is critical that the role that they have played in the evolution of the community and the region be fully researched, documented, and respected. As a preface to the retention of the Advisor and the market engagement, the Town completed a Built Heritage Assessment of the Terminals. The Built Heritage Assessment determined the cultural heritage value of the property and the facility to the community and recommended an overall approach to the conservation of the heritage resource.

    The Town’s current comprehensive Waterfront Masterplan provides key insight into the vision for the Town’s waterfront resources. Although it does not define set outcomes for the Terminals, it does recognize the structure as a significant feature to be developed. It is important to note that the Vision set out in and the individual pillars of the recently updated Community Based Strategic Plan include improving public access to a revitalized world-class waterfront and encouragement of arts and culture amenities in the community.

    There is a plethora of possible end states that have potential to provide broader public access and amenities and will improve and accentuate the Collingwood experience. The Town has not precluded any opportunities or directions and is committed to respecting the local heritage resources and ensuring public access to the waterfront for the people who live, work and play here.

Page last updated: 21 Mar 2023, 12:06 PM