A proposal to redevelop the former Memorial Arena lands into a mixed-income housing project will be before the Town of Bracebridge Special Planning and Development Committee next week.
The committee is scheduled to review the proposal on Feb. 25 meeting. Staff recommend awarding the project to Greystone Project Management. The project would be delivered through a public-private-non-profit partnership with Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North and the District Municipality of Muskoka.
If endorsed, the recommendation will proceed to council for ratification at a special meeting scheduled for March 3.
The redevelopment targets the former arena property at 169 James St. and adjacent lands on Ann Street. The arena was decommissioned and demolished after being replaced by the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in summer 2024.
Four proposals were received through the RFP process, with Greystone’s submission advancing through discussions with municipal and community partners. In December 2025, Muskoka council confirmed in principle support for participating in the proposal, including ownership of one of the two planned buildings.
The concept envisions two apartment buildings providing between 90 and 108 residential units and housing up to 245 residents.
Under the proposal, Habitat would own a four-storey Building A with approximately 15 to 21 units, including a mix of market and affordable rentals and a minimum 15 per cent barrier-free design. Building B, to be owned by Muskoka, would be five or six storeys with roughly 75 to 87 units and dedicated space for children’s programming.
Construction could begin as early as fall 2026, subject to approvals, funding confirmation and finalized agreements, with occupancy projected about two years later.
Plans also propose maintaining the nearby skate park as part of a future enhanced youth park featuring landscaping, recreation amenities and improved accessibility, subject to future funding and land considerations.
The town’s contribution would include conveying municipally owned lands valued at roughly $1.17 million and providing planning and land assembly support as part of the redevelopment effort.
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Wow, what will happen to everyone’s property value. I hope the districk will lower all taxes in the area due to depresation of property values. So asstonished what has happening to this beautiful town. It like the community has stop caring and lost thier community spirit. Something like this should be built on Winihara rd to share the expense with Gravenhurst. Hence support both towns growth and prosperty. Just say it more viable, can have green areas, gardens and add value, safety for both towns. Get out to the meeting pls, voice your community spirit and save people housing market.
Another reason to not give the property away and have the district run the project is the total loss of tax revenue for the site as opposed to a private enterprise building and running the project. What will the total cost/loss to Bracebridge be when you add lost tax revenue to the 1.17 million dollars. If for some reason the Town of Bracebridge collects tax from the District, that still costs tax payers money because there is only one tax payer. What were the other proposal that town staff looked at? This is an opportunity for Bracebridge to make money and get needed housing as long as a private developer runs project.
The Town of Bracebridge should not relinquish ownership of the site..Certainly not for zero $. Keep control of the underlying lands with a long lease to the District. Put in provisions so this does not become another poorly maintained building with no recourse. At some point there may be further development on the site. Or a redevelopment generations down the road. Bracebridge taxpayers will then have no say over what happens. Giving it away without preconditions is not wise use of taxpayer dollars.
The concept looks good and will provide much needed housing if the rentals prices are affordable. What I don’t see in the article is the cost to build and how the cost will be paid. Will our taxes increase to build and maintain the project? Would tax payers be better served if the Town had sold the property for market value and used the money to offset taxes? After seeing the District let housing (the building(s)in Gravenhurst fall apart, I don’t have much faith in the way the housing is operated. In my opinion government should handle housing at arms length and let private enterprise build and maintain the housing. Legislation/bylaws can be passed to control what kind of housing is built and how much it would cost people to rent the housing. Sell the property to Greystone and step back. Was this approach considered? PattyMac has a 100 unit building proposal in front of the Huntsville council, and I don’t see them asking for any tax dollars for the project. (Check Huntsville Doppler)