Thunder Bay is taking another step forward to update the Centennial Botanical Conservatory.

City Councillors voted unanimously Monday night to earmark $1.4-million from the Renew Thunder Bay Fund for the project to renew the facility.

They initially gave the green light last year to replace the cold frame greenhouse and three production greenhouses.

The project also includes safety improvements needed to re-open the East and West wings and remove the netting to catch falling glass in the main tropical display area, along with building a new Annex building with accessible washrooms.

The overall cost would range between $3.96-million to $4.67-million, and is budgeting $1.4-million to support a funding application with the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.

City administration is also recommending pursuing outside funding from the Infrastructure Canada Green and Inclusive Community Buildings fund, which could provide up to 80 per cent of the project’s cost if the city is successful.

Manager of Parks and Open Spaces Cory Halvorsen notes the construction of the new cold frame greenhouse is set to start this year at an estimated cost of $150,000.

The city has completed two-thirds of the design process for the production greenhouse replacement. That is estimated to cost between $2.3-2.5-million, and the city could begin asking for bids from construction firms this fall and begin building in 2022. The entire project could be finished by the end of 2023.