Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Ten months in to the year — with snow on the ground — keeping up with economic activity here is a daunting task.

One that keeps the town’s economic development manager, Amy Taylor, busy on top of far-reaching happenings from one end of the municipality to more than another.

She updated fellow Rotarians on a wide range of current, proposed and critcal projects affecting the growing “Gateway to Muskoka.”

Foremost on many club members’ minds was the long, lingering fate of the Muskoka Centre.

Taylor offered some positive news on that 70-acre Lake Muskoka property.

She said the province has most recently informed the town it may finally have someone seriously looking at it and doing their final due diligence.

There’s a potential “purchaser” who is having a “look-see.”

“They should make an announcement soon.”

A remark that drew much laughter from wisened Rotarians.

Taylor admitted the people of Gravenhurst have “heard that” for almost three decades, since the mental health long-term care home and largest employer closed.

This time she is more reassured.

However, unfortunately she said that means the nearby Ontario Fire College — also closed by the province in 2021 — won’t be dealt with further until a Muskoka Centre deal is brokered.

“But they have told us that as far as the fire college goes, they are not planning on doing anything with it until they’ve dealt with the regional centre. So that’s another reason we think they may be closer than they’ve ever been.”

Taylor continued, first responding to a question about the former Muskoka Tourism office on Hwy. 11 South and owned by Gravenhurst. She said since it closed this year she is exploring future uses of the building and lands, which include local hiking trails and she said could find complementary future uses.

Later, in an interview and sweeping geographic tour of the town, Taylor was more adamant and intent on touting good news commencing at the south end of the core business area.

 

The massive Skyline apartment complex is close to moving in tenants. Building A-2, closest to Sobeys, has been granted an occupancy permit — as has its community centre building in front. She expects the other A-1 building next to Canadian Tire to receive its occupancy permit in November of December.

Taylor says Skyline’s preference is for seniors and mature adults.

“And honestly, the rent I’ve heard so far I don’t think is terrible. I’ve heard between $1,400 and $1,600 for a one-bedroom and $2,200 for a two-bedroom.

“Compared to what it was four years ago it’s high. But I’ve seen some homes going for $3,000 a month.

“At least those units could be attainable. And they’re new and have an amenities building with a games room and workout room.”

On the same commercial property facing Hwy. 11, where a number of retail stores are located including most recently A&W, construction is progressing well on Skyline’s new five-storey hotel.

It will be the second Marriott in town, along with their Residence Inn brand at the Muskoka Wharf.

The Fairfield by Marriott is a “franchised economy to mid-scale hotel brand of Marriott International and targets guests willing to accept fewer amenities for lower prices.”

It’s expected to open in a year’s time.

Taylor says she was also pleased with this year’s opening of the Long & McQuade music store across the road at the Southgate Plaza, most of which L&M has purchased aside from the McDonald’s.

Heading north on Muskoka Road, the Ing Building downtown on the main street —papered over since the sudden death of former owner Dap Thach — is a mystery to her. She’s reached out to the new owners, a numbered company, without answers.

Taylor also added the Business Improvement Area (BIA) is at a “stand-still” in trying to re-organize and energize the core.

A number of smaller retail stores continue to come and go offering some optimism.

Chuck’s looking for franchisee to open

The former Brick furniture store that closed last spring has made way for a potential new Chuck’s roadhouse restaurant. With permits now, the new owners have renovated the site and created or found new window openings north and south. And they’ve built an outdoor patio area to the north.

But they are still looking for a deep-pocketed franchisee to open and run it.

On Bay Street where Muskoka Springs, which just celebrated 150 years of beverage dispensing, they’d like to find a new location for their water plant and turn the rear factory side of the building into some kind of housing (while keeping the façade).

Taylor said she’s assisting them in finding a location, possibly if there’s an expanded industrial park at the north end of town. However the water requirements needed to make that move are a challenge. So hooking in to water services requiring large summer volumes and zoning-change uses factor in.

Other possible sites for the former Brown’s Beverages are privately-owned and those owners aren’t interested in selling, says Taylor.

Nearby on First Street Lake Tree Properties is making fast headway on a 29-unit four-storey apartment building next the Seniors’ Centre and arena. It should be open in about six months. Street level townhouses are next in phase two. It’s one of three projects Lake Tree has underway now including in Huntsville and Parry Sound.

Looking westward “the biggest thing that’s going to impact the Wharf will be the Muskoka Road 169 construction. But we don’t know yet what the specific dates are (possibly starting next year). It’s a district project, they should hopefully be announcing in the next two weeks when the public information centres open. And that will be where the public can give feedback on the project, see what the plans are and hopefully the construction timeline is unveiled.”

The project connects Gull Lake Rotary Park up Brock Street over the main street and down Bay Street to the Wharf.

It means tearing up a main thoroughfare for two years to replace predominantly water and to upgrade some sewer pipes as needed.

“They’re also going to address any active transportation,” Taylor said. “So do we put in any bike lanes? Will we be widening the sidewalks? Are we putting in any accessibility upgrades, like do we cut the corners or texture the corners at the intersections? Things like that.”

She added later the historic white “stage coach steps” midway down Bay Street will definitely be kept.

“So the heritage features will still be there after the project.”

TRG appeals to Ontario Land Tribunal

Taylor also noted when asked that town has been informed that The Rosseau Group (TRG) has appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal the town’s rejection of its condo proposal at the Muskoka Wharf. No date for a hearing has been set.

Again at the Wharf, overlooking the Segwun and Wenonah II, the Alexander retirement home is on track, after more building department inspections, to welcome new residents in March or April.

Digressing, she said the short two-block under-construction section of Winewood Avenue to Muskoka Beach Road is now expected to open in mid-November (a month late) after district water and road work.

Back further west, the town is still dealing with an insurer over the cleanup of the West Gravenhurst sports/beach park where a food truck blew up in September.

Taylor said the truck owners had the required insurance the town ordered to set up. And they were inspected. But the matter with the insurer is over who pays to remove the scattered debris. The town says it’s not their responsibility.

“The challenge is the insurance company is 100 per cent looking after the cleanup. However, the adjustor (in Alberta) looking after it has left the company. And they have to assign a new adjustor to look after the cleanup.”

She said the town is waiting to hear the final report from the Fire Marshal, which is still investigating the cause.

Meanwhile the owners have started a GoFundMe account to help themselves as they plan to return to business.

Taylor went on to say a review of the food vendor licence program is underway, which could include another one at the Centennial Centre.

On the other side of town at Gull Lake Rotary Park an experiment this summer allowing Sawdust City Brewery to sell its craft beer in the former snack bar was attempted 14 nights including some Sundays. But it may not be repeated.

Town council previously opted out of the typical snack bar usage of the washroom building due they said to the unavailability of suitable operators. The preference now is for a beach-compatible tuck shop to sell or rent swim and park related items.

Rotary Rocks the Barge RFP issued

Taylor said the town was also to issue an RFP (request for proposals) this week for contractors to build ‘Rotary Rocks the Barge’ seating next spring for the 2024 summer concert season. Public works staff has now also removed the old concrete sound bunker in the hillside, she said.

And a friendly hot-dog cart operator, with a black top hat, was welcomed by many at the beach including workers who dropped by for lunch.

And the busy new Burger Boys food truck on main street next to Chuck’s — like the Shelby’s and Zoey’s chip trucks on First Street and Bethune Drive — is a rental on private property so is not subject to restrictive food vendor bylaws.

Train station back on market in January

What is under town’s control is the former Train Station.

Laudable efforts to revive it and keep it going with new renovations have largely floundered in recent years since the passenger train quit running in 2012.

A town announced deal for the Currie Bros. to move their increasingly busy and out-of-town customer-drawing music and antiques shop in fell apart when the lease proved far too onerous and one-sided, said the Curries.

Taylor responded: “We started lease negotiations and then they decided that the situation where they are is still beneficial for them. So they stayed there.

“So in January the Train Station will go back onto the market as a lease opportunity.

“We’ve had a lot of people interested in it. But the uses proposed haven’t really fit. Like the challenge we had was a couple of people suggested a restaurant, which was fine. Except it was largely fried food. So then we had to worry about the exhaust. Because one of the features of that building is the designated woodwork interior. We have to be conscious of how we don’t damage it.”

Dreams of a resumption of Ontario Northland train service next year were again resurrected last week and this when the province convened public information centres in Bracebridge, Huntsville and Gravenhurst to receive yet more feedback on route scheduling.

And any consideration of uniting train and bus service — especially busy bus parcel delivery — are for now only wishful thinking.

Former motel ‘should be afforable housing’

Farther up on Bethune Drive, the former Muskokan Motel at the north entrance to Gravenhurst remains an eyesore and is the subject of much local conflab about how “someone should turn it in to affordable housing.”

What looks like construction activity of late has spurred that chin-wagging among the cognoscenti.

Taylor says she and the building department have “left a couple of voicemails and a few emails for the owner” whose had it for the last seven or eight years.

“And we just haven’t had a response back.”

Taylor said she’s stopped in at the site a couple of times, “but it’s pretty hard to get information.”

The owner(s) was the previous owner of New Ark Marina after the Smiths sold.

The building and bylaw departments are aware but there are no updates.

Across town on Wellington Street — off the Muskoka Beach — the Loon Call subdivision has just sodded the fronts of their single-detached homes, which are among the 75 properties, transforming them from muddy construction oasis. Meanwhile work should continue on their other townhouse and row housing next year.

Just north of that is LIV’s “Cedars” community development. They’ve done site prep, tree removal and roadwork on 48 lots. They’re at the stage of starting foundations and framng.

Taylor said concerns about LIV clear-cutting the site without a permit never led to any fines — she thinks.

“But I’ll have to check.

“Technically they did not comply with the tree-preservation bylaw. So there were discussions about holdback and penalties. But ultimately what they did would have been approved. So it means we’re paying extra attention to site plan agreements, alterations and just monitoring what else is happening.

“So much of it is ignorance. A lot of developers they haven’t researched the bylaws; or we’ve told them and they don’t pay attention. Or they plead ignorance and say we didn’t know they existed. So we end up doing this two-step approach where we’re educating and informing where things are invalid, and enforcing and penalizing where we have to.”

Similar complaints were expressed about demolition work at the nearby Taboo Resort when after a fire they allegedly took down a building without getting approval to remove and dispose of dangerous asbestos.

Also there had been talk that a new Taboo residential building — constructed a few years ago on the waterfront above their Boathouse entertainment centre — was to be removed.

But Taylor says as far as she knows it is staying and that another proposed five-storey building will wrap around it and be attached along the water’s edge closer toward its own beach, which is next the town’s public beach at mouth of the Hoc Roc River entering Lake Muskoka.

A final site plan has not been approved, but in theory Taylor says Taboo can build up to five storeys within the existing zoning for that area of town. She said generally in tourist or scenic areas developers can build to that height.

No date has been set for construction if gets approval.

$100,000 from Tourism Accomodation Tax

Taylor went on to talk about the town’s new Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAC), which has raised more than $100,000 by being applied to short-term rentals.

Since February rental operators who have registered charge a 4 per cent tax on the accommodation portion of the stay.

“The visitor pays it on their invoice. For example, if they stayed at a bed and breakfast, because it’s just the accommodation portion they would pay 4 per cent on the room. But they wouldn’t have to pay it on meals or amenities or parking. So whether they rent a hotel, motel, cottage or bed and breakfast it’s all charged on only the accommodation portion and for units that are only rented for less than 30 days.”

So far “we are sitting at about 170 registered properties. And we know there are a lot more Airbnbs and short-term rental buildings that could be licensed.”

Taylor said housing, homelessness and social services are district roles now and the tax program which is elsewhere in the district helps the lower-tier municipalities raise funds.

Which, she said, overall also helps and speaks to the dire need for affordable and attainable housing and the District of Muskoka’s lead.

Gravenhurst, she said, can put people in touch with the district to help build housing or donate land.

“We continue to advocate for the Muskoka Land Trust or GAP or alternative groups that might be able to address (affordable housing) or have an idea how to address it. But ultimately any funding for it from the province goes down to the district.”

A community committee is being set up to decide on how to spend the MAC tax.

And to determine “what is the best model” to administer it.

“Not everybody can access homes through like Habitat for Humanity. Not everyone can assist in building. Some people may not have the credit or equity. So what is the best model? Is it district-run housing where people pay in to it? Or is it a program that lets people transition in to home ownership instead of always just renting. Part of the challenge is in addition to money and land what is the best model going forward.”

Staying with housing the Muskoka Bay golf course owners are proceeding with its ever expansions. They have 20 new homes approved, are actively building 10 and are working on their second condo/hotel building — the first of which has been the training camp home to the Toronto Maple Leafs this year and last.

“They have some big plans, so it will be interesting to see if it all comes through.”

As another aside, Taylor said the Beaver Creek federal minimum and medium security prisons have re-started their community outreach worker support program, but there are no building plans in the works.

In addition to all this the town is revamping its website again in the new year and hoping to consolidate all its various web components and information portals.

They include Engage Gravenhurst, Gravenhurst.ca, Discover Gravenhurst and the Opera House.

“The idea is the main Gravenhurst.ca page is six or seven years old, so it’s due for a refresh that has all the accessibility tools. Just freshen it up and make it more user friendly,” said Taylor.

“We’re in the middle of a communication strategy to try to figure out corporately what are we going to do and how do we spread the word.

“But then also what’s out there and I think there’s going to be a big reliance on some of the digital platforms. Because many of the people are still getting their news digitally. And how do we get to the people who don’t have a computer or they aren’t comfortable with it.

“As many platforms as we can use I think is the best.”

Christmas light home, business decoration contest

In conclusion Taylor made mention of Nov. 17, the day the town and chamber of commerce are at the Wharf kicking off “a bunch of things,” including a craft sale that day and the next at the Muskoka Discovery Centre.

From then to Dec. 22 they are encouraging home owners and on businesses to decorate their properties. They’ll ask the public to vote on their favourites. Everybody who votes gets their name in a draw to win $100 in “Gravenhurst Dollars.” The best residence light display and best business décor display winner will each receive a $200 gift certificate to Canadian Tire or Home Hardware “to beef up their decorations or for last minute Christmas shopping or whatever they want.

“We want everyone to get out and see the displays,” said Taylor.

EMAIL: [email protected]

30^th year of ‘Local Online Journalism’

Twitter: @muskokatoday, Facebook: mclairmont1

Leave comments at end of story

SUBSCRIBE for $25 by e-transferring to [email protected]

Or go online to https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions