CORNWALL, Ontario – The first shovels pierced the earth at the corner of Sydney and Second streets in Cornwall, as work has officially begun on a new residential development.
A short sod-turning event took place at the home of what will be the Knox city Centre – a mixed use multi-storey building that will feature 36 executive apartments with commercial office space on the ground floor.
Local municipal dignitaries,, including Mayor Bob Kilger, as well as developer JC Godard were on hand for the event.
“This is a project that gives people a chance to reconnect with one of the most exciting areas of Cornwall,” Godard, who is also owner of Tri-Star Living, said in an earlier release. “The building will offer luxury-type amenities while at the same time taking advantage of the very best in energy-efficient construction.”
Although similar in design to another Godard project – King’s Landing on Montreal Road – Knox City Centre will have a number of unique features, including a colour scheme that will be complementary to nearby buildings such as the Cornwall Public Library.
The site is the former home of Knox-St. Paul’s Church.
The church is now located in the city’s north end, and Rev. Don Wachenschwanz was at the sod turning to offer some words on inspiration before construction begins.
Knox City Centre complex will be seven stories tall, creating an instant landmark in the downtown core.
City officials have praised the new construction project.
“Downtown Cornwall continues to see investment and the revitalization of key properties,” Ken Bedford, supervisor of planning for the city, said in a release. “The site was already serviced and zoned appropriately and therefore could be considered a turn-key development site.”
The construction of Knox City Centre is the third major development project by Godard in Cornwall in the past three years. In addition to the nearly completed King’s Landing in the east end, the Riverdale Terrace retirement residence in the west end is also on his roster.
Knox City Centre is scheduled for occupancy in the spring of 2015.
