In 2022, a developer was chosen to redevelop the iconic Collingwood Grain Terminals. In 2023, that developer’s vision for the land was revealed to the public for the first time.
The town announced Streetcar Developments Inc. and Dream Unlimited Corporation were named the successful proponents for the redevelopment of the Collingwood Grain Terminals back in 2022.
In March of this year, President of Streetcar Developments Inc. Les Mallins came before council as part of a public meeting to reveal his plans for the Terminals, which is expected to come in with an estimated price tag of more than $200 million.
The plans presented in March include building a 10-floor hotel out of the grain silos portion of the building. The spaces between the silos will be replaced with windows. The ground-floor plans include a restaurant and cafés, an activity rental shop, and cultural and community spaces.
Typical hotel floors (planned to fill floors two to nine), will include single silo rooms (450 square-feet) and double silo rooms (900 square-feet).
The 10th and top floor will be built as one large space on top of the existing terminals structure to be called “The Bin Floor,” housing a bar and restaurant, outdoor terraces, event spaces, a fitness facility and a wellness centre.
On the east side of the building connected to the Terminals will be a 24-storey (from ground to top) residential condominium tower.
Also included in the plans is the redevelopment of the spit, Millennium Park and the area surrounding the Terminals to create more public recreation options which include trails rock climbing, ziplining and roof walk options.
The developer also intends to redesign the north portion of park adjacent to the Terminals to build a swimming pier and space for non-motorized water activities for the summer months, and a skating rink and warming stations in the winter months.
Public reaction to the proposal was mixed, with some sending in letters to CollingwoodToday opposed to the 24-storey condo tower portion of the plan.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the project was finalized and signed by the town and the developers in June. Although the MOU in its entirety remains confidential, the town and the proponent agreed to release specific business terms that the parties deemed are of high interest and importance to the community.
Included in those details were that the MOU includes terms for selling 0.2 acres of the spit lands to Streetcar for the proposed residential development. The remaining 19.8 acres of land on what is known as the spit would remain under the town's ownership.
However, the memo also proposes a life lease of about 0.8 acres of land to Streetcar to accommodate the overhaul of the silos to create the hotel and public amenities.
Additional details from a staff report at that time note the town's financial commitment to the project is about $15 million. As it's early in the process, the budget could change. The estimated completion date for the work, should it go ahead, is 2028.
Public consultation on the Terminals plans started this past fall with a survey for residents to rename the project.
Based on 1,500 survey responses received, on Nov. 15 the town announced the project is now named Terminals Point.
When reached for comment by CollingwoodToday this month, Mallins said he and the town are currently working their way through the legal documents required to support the development agreement.
“The process the town had outlined from the get-go and we’ve been following has taken a little bit longer than everyone had expected,” he said. “We’re pretty close to wrapping that up, hopefully sometime in January.”
On Dec. 4, Mayor Yvonne Hamlin confirmed the Terminals discussion was part of an in-camera session of council earlier that day and that staff are currently working through a development agreement, which should be coming to council soon.
In 2024, public engagement sessions on the proposal are planned as well as consultations with interested community groups. Mallins says he sees bringing preliminary planning applications forward this year as well. He expects it will take about 16 months to work through the planning application process.
“The project has stayed true to what we’ve presented to the public. This is something that’s so special to the town and the region,” he said. “All of the discussions up until now have been with our consultants or the town – it’s a very small group. It’s strange to be a year in and all the discussions haven’t been inclusive of the balance of the community.”
“The best part of 2024 (will be) engaging the public and hearing what everyone has to say,” said Mallins.
