Home, sweet new homes

 In Opinion

Anyone new to town may see a new 498-unit development to be built at the corner of County Road 9 and Mary Street as a bit of a shocker but anyone who has been around for a while knows that it is more of a slow burn.

The Alliance Homes development ignited the community when it was first proposed in 2003. A lot of work has been put into the current version that is coming to life. We predict it will be good for Creemore to have some new and diverse housing stock, including townhouses, and seniors apartments eventually.

We may not like change around here but there is no denying that this town could use some new blood, the businesses could benefit from a few new customers and the local schools would welcome new students.

Even long-time residents may need a reminder of how this whole thing has played out over the last 15 years. Many discussions and an Ontario Municipal Board hearing have got us to where we are now.

In the beginning there were concerns that the development, at 527 units, would overwhelm the village, basically doubling the population. There was widespread opposition to the size of the project. But times change and some of those people are no longer involved. More importantly, citizens have been working away, making sure that the development will be good for Creemore.

The citizen group CARA – Creemore and Area Ratepayers Association – went to work on the file, participating as a party at the OMB, hoping to see the development scaled back to protect the character of the village.

Although the scale of the development wasn’t changed significantly, through negotiations CARA was able to advocate for phasing, have input into the design of the homes and improve overall communication with the developer.

The development is better for the community, given the negotiations. CARA advocated for the funding of a local Community Foundation, starting with a $100,000 contribution by Alliance to the Foundation following the completion of Phase 1, a commitment from Alliance to use reasonable efforts to include some affordable housing units and to use local trades and suppliers to supplement its construction teams, if commercially reasonable to do so.

CARA is now supporting the development and has a congenial and cooperative relationship with the developer.

The OMB was settled a decade ago, just in time for the economic crisis of 2008, but things have certainly picked up now and housing is being snatched off the market, no matter the cost. The Southern Georgian Bay Association of Realtors is reporting that housing supply is historically low.

Our bank is closing, school enrollment is low and businesses are feeling the pressure. We should embrace this development and welcome any new people who choose to make Creemore their home.

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