NEW MUSKOKA WHARF EXPANSION INCLUDES 5 NEW ‘POP-UP’ RETAIL BUILDINGS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — A revitalization and expansion plan for the Muskoka Wharf — which will see five new “pop-up” business buildings built on vacant lands — has the Gateway to Muskoka community receiving $357,000 in federal funding.

The seasonal retail spaces could also include a small building in the open public space at Coburn Square.

It’s part of FedNor government loans and grants for 10 public and private regional tourism initiatives in 2022. They include sewer lines for Santa’s Village and trail grooming machine money for snowmobile trails.

See related story with details elsewhere on MuskokaTODAY.com.

Gravenhurst’s share of the more than $2 million comes at the end of National Tourism Week, May 29 to June 4, and is from Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund (TRF).

A grant release says it will: “Create new product offerings at the waterfront in Gravenhurst. Identified as strategic priority in the community’s Wharf Revitalization Plan, the project will include establishing retail spaces on vacant land around Wharf to attract small businesses, developing pedestrian way-finding, as well as landscaping and shoreline upgrades to ensure environmentally sustainability.

“The funding will also be used to replace five of the existing docks and complete accessibility and boat launch upgrades to enhance the user experience.

“And as part of the project, the Town of Gravenhurst will also revitalize five waterfront facilities including the sports services building, two sets of public washrooms, a public picnic shelter and the Muskoka Discovery Centre.

“Once complete, this project is expected to support 28 businesses, attract more events to the region, while creating 30 local jobs and help maintain over 180 more.”

The Muskoka Wharf will get its first major overdue expansion since it opened in 2005 with great unmet expectations. New buildings, docks and amenities are in the plans to revitalize the 17-year-old tourist attraction.

In an update yesterday, Melissa Halford, Gravenhurst’s director of development services, said council approved the plan for new retail spaces that can be rented out on a short-term basis.

She expects most of five buildings would be closer to the Muskoka Discovery Centre at the west end of the Wharf, where there are several empty lots and more unbuilt spaces where boat rentals and sales have taken place the past few years.

The 17-year-old Wharf, a popular attraction for its boardwalk and access to Lake Muskoka, has struggled in recent years to gain any significant retail traction as originally envisioned and is looking for new life.

A couple of restaurants anchor the site.

Fulltime businesses have come and gone and some long-term tenants are now service-oriented rather than catering to increasing numbers of tourists who have discovered it.

The Muskoka Steamships fleet of the steamer Segwun and Wenonah II is one of its main attractions.

No date has been announced for the commencement of the buildings.

But renewed work on the public and rental docks mean a “busy summer” for the works department, expects Halford.

Amy Taylor, manager of economic development, marketing and tourism, added: “We are already underway with some items and will continue to roll out many more in the longer term. COVID did have impacts on us being able to start work sooner, but we are making progress.

“We are looking to roll out a few things this summer – just waiting for confirmation of timing.  We are already working on painting and repairs, landscaping, the pop-up village and signage improvements.”

See link to full council report here.

New retail tenants in recent years haved tended to the service sector rather than tourism-oriented.
The popularity of the Wharf’s boardwalk could see it lined with more temporary seasonal retail spaces along its west end stretch next to the Muskoka Discovery Centre.
A number of vacant west-end lots will likely be filled in as part of the first major expansion since the Wharf opened in 2005.

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