Friday Harbour asks to delay hotel, plans to build retirement home
The builder behind the Friday Harbour resort in Innisfil is looking to make some changes to its construction phase requirements.
Initially required to build a hotel and conference centre and create an official plan for homeowners to rent out their properties in its secondary plan, Geranium is asking the Town of Innisfil to delay those requirements.
"We just want to get it absolutely right," said Cheryl Shindruk, Executive Vice President of Geranium. "The pandemic has had a massive impact on the hospitality industry and it will be years before it recovers."
Shindruk said the amendment would designate a plot of land on the resort that would be made solely for a future hotel and conference centre.
"We would protect that site for a hotel that is envisioned at the east end of the boardwalk and allow that hotel to be delivered when the conditions support it," she added.
Geranium is switching its focus to building a 155 suite retirement facility instead, which Shindruk said is more of an urgent need.
"We are trying to build complete communities and our complete communities, of course, include seniors," said Leo DeLoyde, Director of Growth with the Town of Innisfil. "So there is a pressing need and we're seeing that in our research."
Friday Harbour would hope to have shovels in the ground for the new facility by next spring, should the amendments be approved.
Next spring would also see the creation of an official rental program, pushed back from its December 2021 target date.
"I think Friday Harbour needs to speed that process up," said Dan Davidson, Deputy Mayor. "We want to do it right the first time, and I think once they get in that, you won't have crazy weekend parties that are disturbing everybody."
Meanwhile, Shindruk estimates that a planned retirement home would cost over $50 million.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.