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The City of Trois-Rivières, Québec, recently announced a major revitalization project: Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent. To help in redeveloping this brownfield site, the city received a below-market loan from FCM’s Green Municipal Fund™. During the annual meeting of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative held in June in Trois-Rivières, we met with Michel Byette, Director General of the City of Trois-Rivières. (View a short biography of Michel Byette.)
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- How did you first get involved with the brownfields issue?
The City of Trois-Rivières owns several brownfield sites that had previously been used for industrial purposes. Given its size and its strategic location at the confluence of the Saint-Charles River and the Saint-Lawrence Seaway, the site of the Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent project — which had once been a pulp and paper mill — held great potential for redevelopment. With the participation of a number of partners, the city will revitalize the 340,000 m2 parcel of land in a way that ensures a sustainable, accessible development for the city and all its citizens.
- What do municipalities have to gain by taking action on contaminated sites?
Contaminated sites often prevent citizens from fully enjoying their city. But once this project is finished, Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent will offer citizens an enjoyable place to play, live and work in. The site will feature a three-kilometre boardwalk along the river, a rest area, a forest interpretation centre, revitalized Île Saint-Quentin park installations as well as residential and industrial projects developed by the city’s partners. It’s therefore safe to say that the greatest advantages to brownfield redevelopment for a municipality are economic, social and environmental improvements.
- What are the main barriers that your municipality is facing with respect to brownfields and how are you trying to overcome them?
Remediation of brownfield sites is a long and complex process. As this site is quite vast, we had to take special care to ensure that every step — from the actual remediation project to revitalization and construction — satisfies the environmental and economic requirements and the city’s plan. One must keep in mind that the costs associated with decontaminating a site are relatively high. Fortunately, there are financial resources available that can reduce brownfield remediation costs. Thanks to the support of the FCM’s Green Municipal Fund and the Ministère du développement durable, de l’environnement et des parcs du Québec’s ClimatSol program*, we managed to reduce costs while having the privilege of employing a workforce which was highly skilled in this type of project.
- It is often said that a team approach is needed to redevelop a contaminated site. In your experience, who are the primary stakeholders that need to be on board?
The city must select a team with extraordinary expertise. All our city’s departments contributed to the Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent project, and let’s not forget our partners and the specialists in brownfield remediation. Finally, FCM’s Green Municipal Fund and the ClimatSol program also provided very welcome expertise.
- From issues of liability to lack of funding and risk, brownfield sites present development challenges which are virtually non-existent with greenfield sites. How do you engage the developer to look beyond these barriers and to see the light at the end of the tunnel?
Potential partners are often convinced by the fact that brownfield sites are usually strategically well positioned and will therefore ensure important economic returns for both themselves and the city. As well, these sites are often in areas that could contribute to the development of the downtown core. In the case of Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent, developers immediately jumped on the bandwagon because they saw the potential for this kind of project, including a boardwalk, the wharf revitalization, a bicycle path, an interpretation centre, accessible housing and a techno park.
- Is there a brownfields initiative in your community that you are particularly proud of?
I’m particularly proud of the Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent project. It will provide citizens with a place they can enjoy. It provides an opportunity for the City of Trois-Rivières to develop economically and socially while decreasing the environmental impacts. Furthermore, the interpretation centre provides Trois-Rivières with an opportunity to become a reference point for the forestry industry in the province.
- What lessons did you learn in implementing this initiative? How did these lessons influence other activities offered within your community?
First and foremost, remediating a site as vast as Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent was very complex. We knew how important it was to be able to count on a team of reliable experts to prevent costly delays.
Indeed, the site’s rehabilitation did lead to the realization of other projects such as an amphitheatre, the wharf revitalization and a techno park. The project also led to the remediation of other sites.
- What motivates you to work on this issue?
Returning public space to our citizens for their use is very important to me. Also, as I mentioned previously, though it sometimes is quite complex, remediating a site allows for total development. In Trois-Rivières, this project has created jobs. It offers citizens affordable and safe living areas and a healthy environment while allowing local and even international businesses to establish themselves here.
- What can mayors and councillors do to support brownfield redevelopment in their communities?
Have an excellent development plan. Fortunately, grants and below-market loans available from FCM’s Green Municipal Fund and the ClimatSol program make it easier for municipalities to redevelop brownfield sites. It’s also important to show developers how they can benefit economically from partnering with municipalities on these projects.
- What suggestions would you make for other municipalities interested in undertaking a similar project?
Don’t give in to the bias associated with brownfield sites. Something can always be done with them. Secondly, choose experts capable of supporting your city in its efforts and finally, take advantage of funding available from organizations such as FCM and ClimatSol. Brownfield redevelopment can often result in economic, social and environmental improvements to your city.
- Why did you choose GMF as a financial partner?
Support from the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) enabled us to undertake the Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent project. Its interest rates were very attractive and as we’d already received their support in the past for various studies, we were familiar with the process. Everything went smoothly and we received tremendous financial and technical help. Moreover, as the project was backed by GMF, it was easier to convince developers to partner with us.
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*Website available in French only.
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