The Town of Huntsville council is considering a proposal for a new five-storey, mixed-use development at 5 Hanes Road.
The proposed five-storey design features1,450 square metres of ground-floor space divided into 14 commercial units. The four floors above will house 100 rental apartments, with each level containing 25 units. The building offers a diverse mix of 12 studios, 60 one-bedroom units, and 28 two-bedroom suites.
The proposal also states that 16 of the 100 rental apartments will be affordable units rented out for seven-year terms.
The proposal was brought forward by Steve MacDonald at the Feb. 11 planning meeting. During his presentation to council, he emphasized the main purpose of the proposal is to provide housing for “the people who keep Huntsville running.”
MacDonald told council he owns PattyMac, a custom home building company that employs 100 people across Huntsville and the wider Muskoka region, adding that they see the housing crisis in the area firsthand.
“This community is home for us in every sense of the word. Because we live here, we see firsthand a real and growing need for housing and hardworking, for hardworking people and their families. We experience it directly through our business. The employees and subcontractors we work with struggle to find housing close to where they work,” said MacDonald.
He said with proposed building, they will add value to Huntsville while respecting Muskoka’s character, heritage, and sense of community.
“It’s important for council to understand that we are local. We are not an out of town developer here to maximize profits. We live here, we work here, and our reputations are here,” he said. “We understand Muskoka, and it is our goal to build responsibly and thoughtfully in a way that fits the fabric of the community.”
After a lengthy discussion and comments from council, staff was directed to work alongside the applicant to return with a recommendation for approval.
“That concept of having residents with commercial beneath and even be able to walk to the stores. It’s great,” said councillor Helena Renwick.
