Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Orillia’s Waterfront Redevelopment Project at 70 Front St. N. has reached another construction milestone, as the southern portion of the existing plaza is prepared for demolition in January 2022.
“This site was identified as a significant opportunity for redevelopment in the 2012 Downtown Tomorrow Plan,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “Since that time the city has been preparing the lands for sale and redevelopment to facilitate a transformation of these strategic lands, linking our beautiful waterfront and our heritage downtown.”
Fencing is up around the southern portion of the plaza to allow demolition contractors to carry out abatement work and utility disconnections ahead of the demolition. The demolition does not affect the Metro store which will remain in place.
“The demolition of the southern plaza is the culmination of years of land assembly, de-risking of the site through plans and studies and a comprehensive sales process that resulted in the city choosing FRAM Building Group (FRAM) as the preferred development proponent in July 2021,” said Councillor Tim Lauer, chair of the Waterfront Working Group.
“The demolition of the plaza is the first step in bringing Council’s vision to reality as it opens up the Coldwater Street viewscape in preparation for the Coldwater Street extension.”
Since the sale was announced this past summer, staff has been working closely with FRAM in anticipation of a spring closing date for the sale. Discussions regarding preliminary servicing plans are underway to ensure that reconstruction of Centennial Drive takes into account the servicing needs of the new development in order to ensure a seamless redevelopment of both the public infrastructure in the waterfront area and the private redevelopment of the adjacent lands.
The design concept as submitted by FRAM consists of a mixed-used development that includes waterfront townhomes, an eight-storey condo building at the corner of Coldwater and Front Street, a variety of commercial space, green building practices, pedestrian linkages and more. Their concept will be further developed and refined through Site Plan Approval, community engagement and ongoing collaboration with the City.
One of the largest redevelopment projects to date, the waterfront redevelopment is the most recent investment in the core following construction of Matchedash Lofts and the Orillia Fresh Towns development.
“Orillia’s downtown core is going through an impressive and exciting period of revitalization,” said Laura Thompson, senior manager of business development. “We have several new developments and a diverse and eclectic selection of new shops and restaurants that have recently opened.”
Work on the Centennial Drive reconstruction project will start in 2022 with construction of the Coldwater Street extension slated for 2023.