The City of Thunder Bay, Ontario, is considering its next steps after receiving no bids during a second tax sale for the former Superior Fine Papers Mill property, highlighting the redevelopment challenges facing legacy pulp and paper sites across North America.

The waterfront brownfield property at 550 Shipyard Road was offered for sale with a minimum acceptable bid of approximately C$2.4 million, reflecting outstanding municipal taxes. Despite two sales attempts, municipal officials have yet to secure a buyer for the site.

Historic Mill Site Awaits Redevelopment

The property was home to paper manufacturing operations for nearly a century under several owners, including Thunder Bay Fine Papers and Cascades Fine Paper, before the mill was demolished in 2015.

The site was later acquired in 2019 by local businessman Alan Cheeseman, who proposed redeveloping the property. However, according to local reports, redevelopment efforts did not advance because of challenges related to municipal planning and project requirements.

Cheeseman has indicated he remains open to working with the city should alternative redevelopment opportunities emerge.

City Reviews Future Options

Following the unsuccessful tax sale, Thunder Bay officials are preparing recommendations for City Council regarding the property’s future.

According to municipal officials, the options under consideration include writing off all or part of the outstanding taxes, allowing the tax liability to continue accumulating, assuming ownership of the property or taking title before marketing the site through conventional commercial real estate channels.

No final decision has been announced.

Brownfield Redevelopment Remains an Industry Challenge

The situation reflects a broader trend across the North American pulp and paper industry, where former mill sites frequently present redevelopment challenges despite their strategic industrial locations.

Many legacy paper mills occupy waterfront properties with established transportation infrastructure, rail access and utility connections that can be attractive for future industrial investment. However, environmental remediation requirements, ownership issues and redevelopment costs often complicate transactions.

As older paper production assets continue to be retired or repurposed, municipalities are increasingly exploring strategies to return former mill properties to productive economic use.

Industrial Site Reuse Gains Strategic Importance

Across Canada and the United States, former pulp and paper mill sites are being evaluated for a range of future uses, including advanced manufacturing, forest products processing, logistics, renewable energy and mixed industrial development.

Successful redevelopment can help preserve industrial employment, strengthen regional economies and make use of existing infrastructure while supporting broader community revitalization objectives.

The future of the former Superior Fine Papers property will now depend on the direction chosen by Thunder Bay City Council and whether a commercially viable redevelopment strategy can be identified for one of the city’s historic industrial sites.

Last Updated on 01/07/2026 by Jota Machinery