The Township of Oro-Medonte and developer Georgian Communities are lobbying Ottawa for funding to support a major development project in Craighurst.
According to the federal lobbyist registry, the township and developer are seeking $38.5 million through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. The money would help cover the cost of water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure for the Craighurst Crossing development.
George Vadeboncoeur, the township’s manager of planning special projects, confirmed the request.
“The township is seeking a grant through the federal Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to help fund water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure for the Craighurst Crossing development that will expedite the construction of affordable housing,” Vadeboncoeur said.
Craighurst, identified in the township’s official plan as a settlement area, currently has about 100 homes. The plan envisions growth to more than 800 dwelling units.
Georgian Communities, which owns the land at 1990 Horseshoe Valley Rd. W., has embarked on a multi-year plan to build what it describes as a complete community. That includes low-rise apartments, townhomes and semi-detached units, along with supporting commercial uses.
Vadeboncoeur said those housing types are a more affordable option compared with traditional single-family homes. The township argues federal support would allow the affordable components of the project to be built much sooner.
“If federal funding is not secured, the project will continue, it will just take longer — 10-plus years — to build the more affordable forms of housing,” Vadeboncoeur said.
The lobbying efforts come as municipalities across Canada face pressure to speed up housing construction. The federal government has earmarked billions in infrastructure spending to enable the construction of new housing, particularly affordable and rental units.
For Oro-Medonte, a largely rural township north of Barrie, the Craighurst project represents one of its largest planned growth areas.
If approved, the funding would help accelerate infrastructure work needed to support hundreds of new homes.
On its website, Georgian Communities describes Craighurst Crossing as an “exclusive neighbourhood [that] offers a serene escape from urban congestion, with daily necessities within walking distance and the Copeland Forest trails just minutes away.”
