Construction is set to begin on a 103-unit rental housing complex in Bracebridge, Ontario, built on the site of the town’s former Memorial Arena.
The project, which officially broke ground this week, includes 25 units designated as affordable housing. Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney said the location, a block from the downtown core and on a transit route, will make the development convenient for residents once it opens.
Addressing a Growing Wait-List
District of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman said the region’s housing wait-list has grown to more than 700 families, many of them local workers. Lehman pointed to the area’s tourism industry and health-care sector as examples of fields where employees struggle to find housing close to their jobs.
The development will consist of two buildings on the former arena land: an 82-unit building and a separate four-storey, 21-unit building that will be operated by Habitat for Humanity. Megan Taylor, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North, said there is significant demand for rental housing across the affordability spectrum, and that having a dedicated building will let the organization support people at different stages of housing need.
Construction Costs and Timeline
Jon Morton, chief operating officer of Greystone Project Management, said the units are being delivered at roughly $300,000 each, a figure he said covers site work, building costs and engineering. Morton said that cost structure allows the project to pencil out as workable.
Site planning is nearly finished, according to Morton, with fencing and construction work expected to start within two to three weeks of the groundbreaking. The complex is scheduled for completion by late 2028.
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