Community Update: The Port Lands

At the request of the Co-Owners, ACCPathways (a division of ACCFutures) is pleased to provide the following update to the communities of Akwesasne and the City of Cornwall regarding progress being made at the jointly owned Port Lands site.

Over the past 18 months the Co-Owners have been meeting regularly to advance the development of the site. The following represents some key highlights over the period:

1. The engagement of ACCPathways as Project Manager.

Visit: http://www.accfutures.ca/accpathways/

2. The creation of a community facing website and social accounts.

Visit http://www.theportlands.org

3. The facilitation of a public engagement survey, forum, and ideas board, with over 1000

responses.

The feedback from the community engagement survey indicated that the majority of

respondents cared most about adding vibrancy to the waterfront. The items the community was

most interested in seeing incorporated into the Port Lands development (in descending order)

included:

1. Walking and biking paths

2. Restaurants/bars

3. Public market space

4. Access to parks/green space

5. Outdoor event space

6. Retail/shopping and Public docking and boat access (tied)

7. Fishing Piers

4. An artwork contest which called out for submissions from the community.

The objective given to artists was to design something that could be used in future signage at the

Port Lands. The submissions were given the directive to reflect the spirit of good faith, mutual

respect, understanding and harmony aimed for in the planning, development and maintenance

of the Port Lands

5. The successful demolition of the Cornwall Warehouse building and subsequent seeding of the

area.

6. The installation of armor stones to protect the newly seeded area.

7. The joint commemoration of Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the

Port Lands site with a traditional Tobacco Burn Ceremony at sunrise.

8. Completed an updated Phase I Environmental Site Assessment on the property.

9. Recognition by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute in Municipal Monitor Magazine

https://municipalmonitor.ca/q3-2021/

10. As well as numerous other administrative, financial, and governance-related items.

In terms of the next steps, a priority for the Co-Owners is to continue to advance the necessary

environmental work at the site, which must be completed prior to development. A Phase II

Environmental Site Assessment is required and will proceed imminently. This is expected to conclude Spring 2022. Concurrently with the environmental work, the Co-Owners are investigating options for community use of the site for Summer 2022, which could incorporate elements the community identified as important in the survey.

Lastly, the Co-Owners are pleased to announce that the Project Management contract with

ACCPathways has been renewed for a further 2-year period. "It has been a pleasure working with ACCPathways. They do an excellent job representing both parties. This project has come a long way, and we have addressed many important and complicated issues. We are a long way away from where we started!" Chief Edward Roundpoint, Director, Akwesasne Harbour Development Corporation, and member of the Co-Owners Committee.

For more information and updates on The Port Lands, please visit the website http://www.theportlands.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. For media inquiries, please reach us at [email protected].