The Town of Bracebridge is moving ahead with the redevelopment of the former Memorial Arena site and entering into negotiations with a preferred developer.
Officials say a request for proposals issued earlier this year invited qualified developers to submit plans in alignment with Bracebridge’s Downtown Master Plan. Proposals were to include a mandatory affordable housing component and optional elements like retail, childcare and improvements to nearby public spaces.
During a closed meeting on May 7, a confidential staff report detailing the RFP results was presented to the Planning and Development Committee and a preferred developer was chosen.
At the direction of council, staff will enter into talks with the chosen developer to finalize a plan and put an agreement in place.
Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney says the town staff will be working with the preferred proponent and negotiate the “fine-tuning” of the redevelopment plan to ensure it meets all the conditions they’ve established in the RFP.
“It is absolutely laser focus for the council to see the redevelopment of arena lands. We see them as very valuable to our community and our downtown core. We see them as very valuable being able to address the housing challenges we have in our downtown community” says Maloney. “And obviously we want to see the project move forward, as it should, in expeditious fashion so that we can provide that housing support for the residents of Bracebridge.”
Updates will continue to be shared as the project progresses.
