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Town's downtown lot will stay vacant for a while longer

Repairs are required on the 84 Hurontario St. property before it's ready for public access, says staff
2023-05-1686hurontario
84 Hurontario St. in Collingwood's downtown.

A vacant lot across from town hall and owned by the town since last fall is still not ready for public use, according to an update from staff. 

Clerk Sara Almas gave the report in response to a question from the deputy mayor about the 84 Hurontario Street property during a June 5 council meeting. 

Almas said staff have been working with the Collingwood Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) board toward a plan for the site. 

She said the town’s public works department cleared the site and “it’s in much better condition than we anticipated.” 

However, the town still wants to add electricity access to the site, and some repairs will be necessary to bring it up to a public-use standard. 

“There are a couple of areas that need to be rectified for liability purposes,” said Almas. 

Councillor Deb Doherty said she’s had inquiries from Collingwood Pride organizers to ask if it will be ready in time to be used during the July 14-16 events. 

“I’m not confident at this point we would be in a spot where we would want significant numbers of people to congregate there,” said Almas in response to Doherty. 

The clerk said staff would report back to council for input and confirmation before any plans for the site are finalized. 

The town purchased the land at 84 Hurontario Street on Oct. 28, 2022 after some negotiations. Though a development was proposed for the site, there is no building on it.

It was the Downtown Collingwood BIA that approached the town with a suggestion the town purchase the property. The property currently links the downtown core to the Pine Street parking lot where the BIA hosts the farmers' market in the summer and early fall. 


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Erika Engel

About the Author: Erika Engel

Erika regularly covers all things news in Collingwood as a reporter and editor. She has 15 years of experience as a local journalist
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