Orillia selects FRAM for waterfront development project
The City of Orillia has tapped FRAM Building Group to develop a key piece of waterfront lands.
Alongside TPI Acquisitions, FRAM was one of two companies shortlisted by the city for work on the project in April. The scope of work called for the development of nearly nine acres of land on Front Street, adjacent to the city’s waterfront.
The two companies offered different visions for the site, with a FRAM proposing a mixed-used development with townhomes, an eight-storey condo building at the corner of Coldwater and Front Street, a variety of commercial space, green building practices, pedestrian linkages and a public square at the base of Mississaga Street East.
The city has now entered into negotiations with FRAM and has signed an agreement of purchase and sale with the company for the project. The developer’s design concept will be further developed and refined through site plan approval, community engagement and ongoing collaboration with the city.
Council endorsed FRAM as the preferred proponent at a special meeting in May, and directed staff to assemble a negotiating team, with the assistance of third-party expertise.
“FRAM is a highly-regarded and experienced developer, well known for its success in municipal partnerships and sustainable development. The Waterfront Working Group is pleased with the outcome of the negotiations and looks forward to having FRAM as a partner in the City’s downtown waterfront revitalization efforts," said Coun. Tim Lauer, Chair of the Waterfront Working Group. “The City and FRAM will continue to refine the development concepts as presented through the RFP public consultation phase through the Site Plan Approval process. We will also work together towards common project aspirations such as recognition for revitalization of a large brownfield in the City’s core, design excellence, and co-marketing of Orillia as a community of choice.”
The City of Orillia purchased 70 Front Street North in 2016 with a view of extending Coldwater Street to the waterfront, and facilitating a redevelopment of the southern portion of the property. The property, combined with surrounding municipally owned lands, has been underutilized and was identified as a strategic opportunity for redevelopment through the city’s Downtown Tomorrow Plan.
In order to facilitate redevelopment of the lands, much of which will require environmental remediation, the City had to first “de-risk” the site to make it appealing to developers. This included the expropriation of lease rights which restricted development, preparing the lands through pre-zoning, and the forthcoming demolition of the southern portion of the plaza.
“Orillia’s Waterfront Redevelopment is a very exciting project to be a part of and we are thrilled to have been selected as the preferred proponent,” said FRAM senior vice-president Fred Serrafero. “We look forward to working with the City of Orillia to bring our concept into focus and develop the site in a manner that will revitalize a former brownfield into a vibrant part of the downtown waterfront community.”