Wasaga Beach optimistic with new partner for beachfront redevelopment project

The Town of Wasaga Beach is optimistic it has found the right company to partner with for the redevelopment of its iconic beachfront.

“Council is very pleased to welcome Stonebridge Building Group to the table, to work with the Town and Sunray Group of Hotels, to reinvent our downtown commercial area and beachfront,” Mayor Brian Smith stated.

The agreement with Stonebridge Building Group covers the portion of town-owned property at Beach Area One between First and Third Streets.

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In a release, the Town noted that it expects negotiations for the redevelopment project that has been years in the making to move smoothly and quickly as many details had already been worked out through the Request for Proposal process.

“Learning from our past experience, council is confident that we are further ahead today than we have ever been. Sometimes you need to take one step back to get two steps ahead. Stonebridge has a solid track record, they are invested in our community, and most importantly, they understand council’s vision and the significance of this project for our full-time residents,” Smith added.

Stonebridge Building Group has a history in Wasaga Beach, having actively invested and built in the town for over 20 years.

“I am confident that we are the right partners to get it done. We believe this project must be designed with the history and DNA of the community front-and-centre. We know it must balance beauty and functionality with sustainability,” said Mark Crowe, Stonebridge president.

“Almost 10 years ago, Stonebridge Building Group contributed $75,000 towards the development of Town’s current Beachfront Redevelopment Master Plan. At that time, this investment was leveraged with investments by the Town and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism,” the Town noted.

The news of Stonebridge taking on the project comes just over a month after the Town amicably parted ways with FRAM Building Group.

The Town said negotiations with FRAM ended after the two sides couldn't reach a financial agreement that aligned with expectations. Key sticking points included disagreements over land value and project phasing with Beach Area 2.

Next steps include the Town entering into partnership agreements with Stonebridge and Sunray Group of Hotels - a hotelier the Town signed a Letter of Intent with to bring a hotel to the beachfront.

The Town expects to have shovels in the ground by spring.