Midland council takes a pass on troublesome Midland Bay Landing project

The town says following a comprehensive evaluation - that under the current market conditions - it would be challenging to advance the proposal.

The Town of Midland will not proceed with the proposed Midland Bay Landing (MBL) development project.

Following council’s review of the proposal and taking into consideration the community input for this parcel of waterfront, council decided to pass on the waterfront’s revitalization project.

“We appreciate the time and effort invested by the proponent throughout this process,” said CAO Rhonda Bunn. “Council carefully considered both community input and current economic conditions. At this time, the town has determined that proceeding with an award would not support its broader objectives for this property.”

The 40-acre parcel of land, once used for industrial purposes, sits along the town’s scenic Georgian Bay shoreline. The goal was to transform it into a vibrant, accessible, and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood connecting the town’s revitalized downtown and its historic harbour.

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Getting there wasn’t an easy process. The town has twice tried to secure a development partner, both times lacking success.

“Well, the first time, it’s almost been a sad joke,” Gordon admitted to CBC Ontario Morning last summer.

“We just didn’t have the wherewithal to complete the task.” He said.

“Last time, we worked really hard with the community through COVID to get a master plan for the property, and that master plan over time, because it took so long to get things going - especially with the pandemic, it just didn’t resonate with the community.”

Following a recent comprehensive evaluation, council determined that, under current market conditions, it would be challenging to advance the proposal in a way that appropriately addresses the town’s priorities.

The public consultation, undertaken as part of the MBL process, identified key priorities for the site, including considerations related to waterfront access, scale, land use, and long-term community benefit.

“This is a significant waterfront property, and council is committed to making decisions that support Midland’s long-term interests,” said Mayor Bill Gordon.

“We’ve explored different approaches and taken steps over time to update the planning and policy framework for the site to support a range of development opportunities, and have built a stronger understanding through community input and market context. We will continue building on that work as we consider next steps.”

The town will continue to explore future opportunities for the waterfront that reflect community input, support economic development, and contribute to Midland’s long-term well-being.

In the meantime, work continues to enhance the east side by making it more attractive, safer, and easier to access as informal public open space, including improvements to parking, trails, and pedestrian connections to the water’s edge.

With files by Julianna Balsamo