The City of Orillia is inching closer to issuing an RFP document for its waterfront redevelopment project at 70 Front Street North.

The city is working with consultants and lawyers to prepare the 9.75-acre site for sale and redevelopment by one of the three proponents it shortlisted in June. That list includes Amico Properties, Fram Building Group and TPI Acquisitions. The city aims to release its RFP document in the spring.

When the RFP is released, the proponents will have several months to develop their proposals. The RFP will reference 12 principles for the development that were established during a request for qualifications process. These include priorities such as compatibility with the surrounding land use, enhancement of the resident and visitor experience, and alignment with the city’s Downtown Tomorrow Plan.

Once the city receives the redevelopment proposals, it will carry out a public consultation process to gather resident feedback before selecting the successful proponent. It’s anticipated that public consultation will take place next fall.

“Over the last year, the city has made huge strides on the waterfront redevelopment project,” said Coun. Tim Lauer, chair of the Waterfront Working Group. “Council started the expropriation of lease rights process to prepare the lands for development, we’ve narrowed down a list of developers to three qualified proponents, and allocated funds for demolition of the southern portion of the plaza.”

The city is currently de-risking the site—a process of eliminating any roadblocks that could prevent or obstruct the future redevelopment. Part of that process has involved expropriating certain lease rights from tenants which could affect future redevelopment.

 “The Waterfront Redevelopment Project is an exciting development which is drawing the attention of developers and business owners,” said Laura Thompson, manager of real estate and commercial development. “We are already receiving interest from investors and entrepreneurs who have heard what’s happening in Orillia and are approaching us to ask how they can locate new stores, restaurants and services on the property.”

In 2012, the city adopted the Downtown Tomorrow Plan, which set out a long-term vision to better connect the downtown core and waterfront area. The city bought the property at 70 Front St. N. in 2016 with the intent to extend Coldwater Street to Centennial Drive and facilitate redevelopment of the southern portion of the plaza.