It appears the Town of Bracebridge may maintain ownership of the former Bracebridge Library, but the current home of Riverwalk restaurant and the Bracebriodeg Visitors Center may soon be on the market.
Next week the Town of Bracebridge development service committee will meet to discuss the future of the two venerable locations.
The committee will vote on whether the Carnegie Library, built in 1906 at 94 Manitoba Street, should be retained in municipal ownership and repurposed for municipal operations, including the Town of Bracebridge’s planning and development department and the Muskoka Small Business Centre.
The report also recommends that staff explore co-location opportunities with the Downtown Bracebridge Business Improvement Area (BIA), Visitor Information Centre, and Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce with the Town’s economic development branch to create a Bracebridge Business Development Centre within a portion of the building.
They’ll also take a look at the potential for storage and display space for a portion of the Woodchester Collection inside the old library.
The committee will also consider wether to give staff authority to declare 3 Ecclestone Drive, known as Bird Mill Mews, as surplus, and approve it for sale.
In 1990, the Town purchased Bird Mill Mews. The building was constructed in 1872 as part of the Bird Woollen Mill.
Though it is an old building, it is not historically designated and has had many renovations and updates, according to the staff report. Over the years, the Town has made significant financial investments to restore and revitalize the old building to give it new life.
Currently, the Town leases the space to two tenants: the Chamber in the front, which operates a Visitor Information Centre under an agreement with the Town, and the Riverwalk restaurant. Riverwalk ceased to reopen as a restaurant following the pandemic and the tenant is currently utilizing the kitchen to prep for catering services. The current tenant’s lease is month-to-month.
Both tenants would be given six months’ notice.
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Sybil Jackson says
You mentioned that what is called the Bird Mill Mews was built in 1872. I thought it was built in 1918.
Sybil Jackson
Dana Viking says
Shortsighted on the part of Bracebridge Council to sell Bird Mews and turn the library into fancy town offices. The Planning department is the last department that deserves this space. Their planning and environmental record is a disgrace. Muskoka Royale and Fowler Mega Quarry are just two examples of special interest ‘planning.’
We need a local history museum. The Library is the perfect location.
But isn’t there always some lurking backroom deal in Bracebridge?
Norm Raynor says
What about the bird house. You know, the one that gets a reno every few years and never seems to be used for anything. Is it of any value to the town?
Jack Lord says
The Town has valuable heritage and other properties that have great tourist and community use potential. However the leadership is more focused on land development and quarries. Three glaring examples of the mishmash are Muskoka Royale, Fowler Mega Quarry and Mattamy development. These projects have their own environmental and planning issues. Big negatives for Bracebridge.
Dare we say mismanagement by the Town with respect to Woodchester? A bungled renovation (needs investigation) that required major remedial work from water intrusion paid for by the suffering taxpayer, a $100,000 useless deck in the woods, the Storybook trail that opened with grammatical and spelling mistakes.
Then there is the $100 million boondoggle of the new arena. Guaranteed to be a burden to taxpayers for the next 30 years. Swallowing millions a year in debt and interest charges. Sad.
The Town urgently needs some outside oversight. That oversight is required before any of our community owned properties are sold off or used as a certain departments castle.