As many as 450 homes, priced between $300,000 to $500,000, could be built on the Muskoka Highlands Golf Links property at 1036 South Monck Dr. in Bracebridge.
With 150 acres of land available, Don MacKay, owner of Muskoka Highlands, explains they are partnering with a developer and will take around 50 acres toward the south end of the property.
He says the largest pre-manufactured home will be 1,500 sq. ft. with two beds and two baths while the smallest will be between 800 and 1,000 sq. ft.
The golf course will own the land but not the home. MacKay says they will lease the land to buyers. “We will be responsible for the land and responsible for the subdivision,” he continues.
The proposed development means holes 11 through 16 will be removed and, possibly, the third and fourth, too. He says a final decision on whether they drop to 12 or nine holes has not been made.
MacKay says this was a decision made by the family to support Bracebridge. “It’s meant for people who want to live and work here,” he says, adding there will be strict rules against the homes being used as rentals.
A public meeting was hosted by the Town of Bracebridge in Nov. 2023 to discuss severing 50 acres from the property to allow the work to move forward.
MacKay says they will continue to work with the town and District of Muskoka, pointing out that Official Plan and rezoning amendments are needed before the houses can be brought in.
He isn’t sure when that may happen, but says he’s hopeful things move forward quickly over the next year.
“We need attainable housing,” says MacKay.
In talking with people around town, notably staff at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge, he’s heard about the difficulties they have in finding new employees. “If we haven’t got housing, we’re going to shrink,” says MacKay.
He mentions the Housing for Healthcare initiative created by Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare as a creative solution to the ongoing problem.
He asks anyone interested in learning more about the project to reach out to him or Russell MacKay, General Manager of Muskoka Highlands. MacKay says they aren’t trying to hide this project. They want to be as open and transparent as possible.
