It's been on the books since 2006, but today the final plan for what’s known as the Bridgewater site on Burlington’s waterfront has been revealed.
The 1.68-acre site will house a 340,000 square foot mixed-use development consisting of a 152-room four-star hotel (rumoured in 2012 to be a Delta), 170 condos, and ground-level retail. The condos are expected to be priced between $500,000 and $3 million.
The development is a significant addition to an increasngly urbanized Burlington.
The plan in 2012 was to have the hotel open in time for the Pan-Am/Parapan Games, but according to the developer, the current hope is to have it open by 2017.
The new design, by Page and Steele/IBI Group, is not significantly different from the one made public in 2012. At the time, Burlington ward councilor
Marianne Meed Ward was not enthusiastic about the design,
writing that, "Though my preference is not to see high rises on the waterfront, this project has already been approved." Critics at
Urban Toronto described it as "hideous" and "awful."
Investment Group Mayrose-Tycon is announcing Windsor-based Mady Development Corporation as the developer. CEO Charles Mady evinced much enthusiasm but little knowledge of the site, where the well-known and much-maligned
Riviera Motel stood for many years. "We believe that there was a service station years ago," he said, adding that the land had recently been remediated and been given “a clean bill of health."
Mayrose-Tycon’s Matt Jaecklein glossed over the seven-year construction delay, saying in a press release,"The timing behind our decision to move ahead with this project is rooted in a strong belief in the City of Burlington’s long-term waterfront redevelopment plans."
Burlington mayor Rick Goldring voices his approval for the project, stressing its contribution to the city's density, and its maintenance and expansion of waterfront access.
"I am pleased with the improvements planned for the lakeshore," he said, "to maintain a welcome and accessible waterfront. The Bridgewater project is an example of ways that we can continue to grow through intensification, while preserving public access and visibility of our waterfront on Lake Ontario."
Construction services are being provided by
LCL Builds.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Charles Mady