HERE’S WHAT MUSKOKA CENTRE COULD ONE DAY LOOK LIKE. FIRST, TOMORROW COULD LEAD TO ‘SOME ADJUSTMENTS,’ SAYS CLIFF BAY DEVELOPER KIRILL SOLOVIEV

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com EXCLUSIVE

GRAVENHURST — Kirill Soloviev is open to “maybe some adjustments” to his grand plans for the Muskoka Centre property.

Reached this afternoon by phone, he told MuskokaTODAY.com that depending on what he hears tomorrow night on a second Zoom call “maybe we will make some adjustments to the plan.”

As for access to that meeting, he said it will be tenfold.

“At least a thousand.”

And with a different operator running the meeting?

“Yeah, obviously,”

Presentations will be followed by questions?

“That’s correct?”

A view, above, of the 70-acre Lake Muskoka property from aboard a Wenonah II Pirate Cruise July 5 shows the tree-lined shoreline with the iconic Heritage protected gazebo on the right, a familiar nautical landmark.  Below is a conceptual rendering from Cliff Bay Development. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont

He said Muskoka planner Bob List and “all the other consultants” on the project will take part.

Including Zeidler Architecture, the Toronto design firm behind the massive project on Lake Muskoka in Gravenhurst that Soloviev and his Cliff Bay Development company have put more than five years of time and money into proposing and appear to be near the cusp of succeeding at.

It’s a certainly a bold, ambitious project, which whatever the outcome looks to be a world class resort and residential destination rivalling the best that would definitely further enhance the town’s reputation as the Gateway to Muskoka.

Or an environmental disaster?

See meeting invite link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86710247919?pwd=5l1DZUYsSwIrCXSLuBYdvcVV8s7J98.1

It will be the same presentation as was planned May 27?

“That’s correct.”

Anything new in the plan?

Soloviev said there isn’t anything new that will be presented between seven weeks ago and now.

“No.”

The same gazebo that has guided boater inside the Muskoka Lake Narrows for about a century would remain a focal point of the Zeidler design with complementary enhancements on the waterfront.

He admitted he’s anxious to present his condo/hotel concept that has drawn great interest and concerns from some.

“Yup, you got it. You’ll hear everything tomorrow.”

But as of Tuesday there are no specific questions or concerns that will addressed.

Asked if the meeting will be recorded for later viewing to those unable to catch it, Soloviev said: “It’s gonna be recorded and we’ll address some of the questions. Yes.”

Will the meeting recording be up on the Cliff Bay website later?

“That’s correct, yup.”

Which, he added, will then lead to more questions to be answered in the next “couple of weeks” and that he will have to take into consideration before proceeding to the next steps.

Among many proposed features could be a beach for condo and hotel users to soak up sun.

The previous meeting, which Soloviev later that night called “a shit show,” ended dissatisfyingly after little more than 30 minutes following an “apology” from List when only 100 people were able to log in.

Soloviev said a recording of that meeting is not on the Cliff Bay website.

“No. There wasn’t much in the meeting.”

But others did manage to record it, said the MLA’s Ken Pearce.

(Most of it can still be seen here in MuskokaTODAY.com’s story posted later that night.)

Also among the interesting features are cabanas that resemble island accommodation retreats.

Asked if he wanted to say anything else in advance, Soloviev said: “No. Not really.”

Just tune in and hear the plans.

“Everything” has been set out in his original proposal, he said. “That’s correct.”

And there is also “nothing new” he’s heard from the provincial government, the land owner, or Infrastructure Ontario its real estate agent on his purchase of the 70 acres.

“No updates.”

Hundreds of condos could dominate parts of the horizon along the northwest stretch of the 70 acres.

Looking ahead to the day after the meeting and into the fall, Soloviev said “if you want to have that kind of conversation, I suggest we do it maybe like three, four weeks from now.

“I will have more information and we will take some comments.”

And depending on what he hears Wednesday night “maybe we will make some adjustments.”

“We’re gonna hear people out. And go from there.”

Last time “we only sent out 200 invitations. And everyone else kind of just showed up.

“I don’t know how many will show up (this time). I think the capacity is a thousand.

“See you tomorrow.”

See what Cliff Bay’s Muskoka Centre proposal could one day look like if sale is approved by Ontario. No audio. VIDEO Cliff Bay

There is MLA concern that the summer resort concept would give way to permanent residential use.
Boardwalks are becoming a natural feature of lakeside properties as demand grows for more public access to Muskoka’s lakes that some say are either too crowded now or are an opportunity for others to share the land.
Water and shoreline, above and below, that is the life blood of Muskoka would take on a whole new vision if the visionary proposal proceeds with the aid of a provincial Ministerial Zoning Order.

Wednesday night’s Zoom meeting will help determine whether Muskoka’s reputation as a peoples summer getaway continues as a playground for the rich.

Or the land dormant these past 30 years could remain in Ontario’s hands pending other proposals, which have never amounted to anything in the past and could still one day yet become a provincial day park under another government. PHOTO Mark Clairmont

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