Nearly 62 hectares of prime waterfront land along Welland’s Recreational Canal will be developed after city council approved selling the property Tuesday.
The lands, known as the Northern Reach, consist of 52.53 hectares in Welland and 8.95 hectares in Thorold and run along the canal from Woodlawn Road north to almost Merritt Road.
Welland purchased the 8.95 hectares from Thorold about a decade ago.
It will be developed by LIV Communities which has plans to build 3,800 to 4,500 residential units and will contain a mixed-use residential and a commercial block that features outdoor patio areas with a canal and park views.
“This development will showcase our city’s natural beauty along the canal,” said chief administrative officer Steve Zorbas in a release Wednesday.
“With splash pads, playgrounds, washrooms and more in the central and neighbourhood parks, our community is afforded some wonderful amenities to enjoy and get active; we’re excited to see LIV’s vision come to life.”
The company will develop a gateway feature where a proposed pedestrian-inspired Market Street will connect with a designed shared street.
Also included will be dock launch stations for nonmotorized watercraft.