LATE MARCH FIRE LEFT 20 APARTMENTS, 4 BUSINESS UNITS OUT OF SERVICE, BUT 14 NEW CORE HOUSING ACCOMODATIONS IN OFFING DOWNTOWN GRAVENHURST
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — A dearth of attainable housing in the downtown here has taken a huge blow; but help may be on the way.
A late March apartment fire is still affecting residential and business tenants at building at Muskoka Road and Winewood Avenue.
Twenty apartments and four commercial units were vacated after when the fire spread to the rooftop causing damage to trusses.
Because of that the 24 property users were forced out.
Fencing recently notice surrounding the corner property has drawn interest of passers-by.
All the tenants were forced to have insurance and so many have found other homes or moved in with family or others.
Adam Ager, Gravenhurst’s manager of planning services says the town’s building department advises him that it’s still an active file and that they are working with the owner, Cliff Wichmann Jr., on permit reviews.
He was hoping some apartment tenants might be able to move back in this summer along with possibly commercial users.
But that may be a little optimistic at the moment.
One of those businesses, the Recovery Muskoka medical clinic owned by Dr. Liang Liao, is looking at at least September, he says.
For now he is seeing his patients at his other clinic in Bracebridge forcing more of them to travel out of town for the private practitioner’s health care services.
Meanwhile, the Community Living Muskoka office and its services remain in Gravenhurst.
They have secured temporary space at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on John Street, where they are now providing care.
Another business, Top Gear Hobbies, has moved to the south end of the main street at Phillip Street.
14 Ing Building apartments planned
Meanwhile, the Ing Building next to the Opera House may soon provide relief for those seeking accommodation — and possibly commercial space in an area desperate for more retail uses with soon the prospect of Knapp’s Furniture being gone as it is holding a clearance sale right now.
In November 14 units were approved above the ground floor commercial spaces, previously occupied by Dap Thach’s accounting business before he died. And for a short time a nail salon.
Ager says a stop work order was issued against the new owner.
That was in addition to a property standards order placed in its window not long ago.
He says the owner’s agent is working with the District of Muskoka on “functional services” including proper water and sewer connections for the upstairs apartments.
Which he agreed the core business section of the community is in need of.
Although there has been a new apartment complex opened this past year on First Street where more than a half dozen townhouse units are nearing completion in front of it.
Town not part of recent Muskoka Centre talks
As an aside, he said the town currently has no part in current private discussions about the Muskoka Centre. He said it is taking place with the use of a provincial Ministerial Zoning Order.
If the project proceeds any zoning amendments would come back to the town for re-consideration.
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