We have a lot of properties along Main Street that remain vacant. We also have some properties with a variety of buildings on them.

The walking only section of Main Street at Beach One only has a couple of buildings remaining. Their ownership is not entirely the town. About 30% of Beach one is privately owned. So with that in mind, let’s first look at what may happen at Beach One?

FRAM builds residential condominiums. That’s what they do. So anyone who thinks they will one day stroll along the beachfront and wander in and out of stores and restaurants like a traditional downtown…. Think again.

I suspect Brian Smith is learning that he may not be able to deliver a negotiated development with a developer who owns none of the land involved. It proved to be impossible the last time around and if it were as easy as what they professed, it would have been signed, shared with the public and maybe even had shovels in the ground by now.

Nobody knows the hurdles they are experiencing. It must be difficult with a Council where a clear majority have enjoyed the hospitality of the developer or have worked closely with him in the past. How good of a deal will they have to agree to without appearing to be influenced? It’s not just Council Members vacationing at his Italian Villa that make this difficult. Both Council AND Senior staff they have hired have very close ties to FRAM that go back to their development days in Port Credit. I certainly wouldn’t want to be in their position. For politicians and senior staff, it’s not just important to remain impartial, but they must also be SEEN to be impartial. It will have to be a pretty good deal for the taxpayers in order for this to happen.

But remember, this is not just about the beachfront area.

A second and very important area of development being considered is Main Street between the Bridge and River Road West. This is the area Brian wants everyone to believe he will build a downtown in. It is an area with a large frontage already dedicated to a Walmart anchored retail plaza. Now the owner of that property has increased their ownership of land with additional properties across the road on Main. These properties are easy to identify. They are the properties where all seven Council members were among the ONLY candidates given permission to install election signs during the last election. It must be difficult knowing the incredible advantage this developer offered them and months later THEY were being asked to shape development on lands he owned. That particular scenario is already playing out with the development at Mosley and 18th requiring special road changes to proceed to the developers liking. I wonder what concessions may be needed on Main Street?

During Brian Smiths last term of office when they tried this delicate dance with a developer who owned none of affected property, they at least had a little bit of development leverage in having a need to build a new library and arena. But those facilities are no longer needed, so any municipal infrastructure to be built as part of the trade off will have to be something else. Hey…. MAYBE that is why we suddenly need a new town hall out on Main Street?

There are other property owners involved in this intricate Main Street dance and I am eager to see the role they will play. For now, there are two main developers who appear to control the Main Street area. They are Hamount (Stonebridge) and FRAM. Condominiums, Townhouses and retail plazas are what these two developers may offer in order to create some kind of a future. I doubt any of it will resemble downtown Collingwood, Creemore, Stayner or any other “downtown” people envisioned when they were enticed to vote. We have seen other land owners along Main Street submit proposals in the past, but at least one was asked to return with more retail. These developers do not want to be told what to build. They will simply wait until the right Council is in place when they are ready to proceed.

I suspect we will be told a hotel is coming. Businesses at Stonebridge have been told that for years now. It’s a great election promise or lease enticement. I suspect a major municipal structure will be part of an announcement. But I also suspect, the majority of what we will see will be residential condominiums.

I’m OK with that. Like I said earlier, if a developer wants condominiums, that is what they will eventually deliver. ANY council could simply allow a developer to build condominiums (and maybe should).

However, THIS Council took office with the promise of a downtown. My questions are what will our promised “downtown” look like? What will our Beachfront experience become?

This Council has taken their elected seats by proclaiming that our ONLY industry is tourism. So I am eager to see how they plan on allowing all of these condominiums without eliminating the parking availability in these key areas.

Tic Toc… it’s a tight timeline. Council has until October 26, 2026 to get their contracts signed. With most Councils it would be a shorter period but I suspect the lame duck period will be a minor inconvenience for them.

Before that date comes, they have to present a vision that shows the voters they had our best interests above those of the developers who helped them get elected. It’s a delicate dance!

At the end of the day, I don’t think those waiting for our promised “downtown” will get what they had hoped for. But we shall see.

What I do suspect though is that SOMETHING will be signed sealed and locked in. Regardless of public opinion, I suspect it will be VERY difficult for any future Council to cancel any agreement this council locks in with FRAM. This may become the beginning of a process similar to what we have seen in Collingwood for the last 20 years or so.

Now is your opportunity. Our CAO is inviting everyone to come chat with him to ask questions.
Boy… are there a lot of good questions.