Regina's rail lands project moves ahead with design work

A plan to build homes, stores and entertainmentvenuesthat could change the face of downtown Regina is chugging ahead.

It's the railway renewal project,the second phase of the city'splans to revitalize the downtown. The stadium is phase one.

The Canadian Pacific Railwayland in question is 8.1 hectares (17.5 acres) north of Casino Regina and the Cornwall Centreand south of the warehouse district.

The city has previously said it will pay CP $7.5 million for the land and spend another $2.1 million for an environmental cleanup.

It was originally envisioned as a bigger project, involvinganother 15 acres (about sixhectares), but the city decided buying that much land would be too expensive.

The city announced Thursday it has awarded contracts to a design firm and an engineering firm on the 8.1-hectareparcel.

The redevelopment is scheduled to beginnext year, but the project may not come to completion until 2025 or even later.