Massive waterfront setback?

94.1 FM news is reporting that corporate pollster Don Mills says that the cancellation of the IOL headquarters on Long Wharf is devastating for the waterfront development in the city.  Here’s an excerpt from the article:

Mills says the city is not going to be able to find another flagship development for the Waterfront, which is devastating for the municipality.

While I agree that the cancellation of the project is disappointing I have to call shenanigans on such a bold claim. 

The city and the Waterfront Development Partnership have a master plan for the waterfront that was widely praised.  This plan did not include IOL at Long Wharf, until the project was made public years later.  If the plan is good and other projects proceed, then I can’t see how Irving’s cancellation sets the waterfront back a decade as the article claims. 

While I’ve made criticisms of how slow certain projects have proceeded (cough… Coast Guard site development… three years behind schedule… cough) the waterfront plan and developments are more robust than Mills seems to suggest. 

The Rocca Condos are one example of a project that could be proceeding soon and Bentley Crossing continues to grow.  These are projects that facilitate population growth, something far more important for the central city than a relocation of some employees.