District’s affordable housing project in Bracebridge could be done in a year

There could be 44 new affordable units built at 100 Pine St. in Bracebridge by late 2025

The District of Muskoka announced the project last week as part of its “big move on housing” initiative. 

Officials with the district details how there will be 33 one-bedroom units and 11 studio apartments priced between $550 to $950 a month. He adds fourteen of the 44 units will be barrier-free plus there will be elevator access and accessible parking spaces. 

When speaking with the MyMuskokaNow.com newsroom after the July 15 district council meeting, District Chair Jeff Lehman points out how the project was an early item on the current term of district council’s agenda. 

“The original idea was to build a new apartment building, about three storeys, beside McVittie Place, and try to create all deeply affordable units,” he explains. 

However, he shares how council was quick to agree to add more storeys so more units could be included. 

“This is going to make a big difference,” says Lehman. 

In a March 20, 2024, report from Tom Fortier, the district’s director of human services, and Vineet Bhatia, the district’s director of tax policy and long-term financial planning, they outline how the district has committed $3,349,941 towards the project with additional money requested through provincial and federal funding programs. 

Lehman says the report will guide council on its “big move on housing” as they look to invest more to fight the housing crisis. 

“We know that demand is intense,” he continues, adding how 160 individuals are registered on the district’s by-name list of those experiencing homelessness. 

Fortier and Bhatia write how the district’s decade long housing and homelessness plan includes as much as $24.6 million invested in facilities owned or managed by the district, $8.5 million to work with non-profits and developers to create more affordable housing, and $2 million to “expand capacity” to deliver new housing supply. 

It will also include yearly funding increases. 

Lehman outlines how similar projects are being worked on for Gravenhurst and Huntsville, along the Townships of Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays, and Georgian Bay. 

“The township mayors and councillors are just as strong advocates for getting affordable housing built in their townships as they are in the towns,” adds Lehman. 

As part of the increased focus on affordable housing, Lehman was joined by the respective mayors of Huntsville and Muskoka Lakes, Nancy Alcock and Peter Kelley, in June to meet with Sean Fraser, the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. 

“We don’t want to wait because we know the need is very strong in Muskoka,” says Lehman.