John Slykhuis
John Blackburn of BrightStar Corp., the firm developing Crates Landing, shows an overview plan of the new condominium complex. Last week, Georgina council was told more hotel rooms are being added.
Georgina
May 21, 2008 09:02 PM
By: John Slykhuis
Demand for hotel accommodation in northern York Region is huge, so the new Residence Inn by Marriott hotel and conference centre to be constructed in Keswick will be bigger than originally planned, council heard.
The hotel, to be constructed at the mouth of the Maskinonge River as part of the Crates Landing development, will have 140 suites instead of the originally proposed 110, John Blackburn, president of BrightStar Corp. said.
The change comes from research the Marriott company has done as part of the project, Mr. Blackburn said.
Construction is expected to begin next year on the multi-million-dollar condo development after final approval was given by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, he added.
Shoreline and site preparation will begin in July, with pile driving starting in winter, council was told. The new community is expected to be completed in spring 2011.
To become Keswick’s premier people place, Crates Landing will have world-class spas, shops, cafés and patios, nature trail, observation points and floating docks for visitors, Mr. Blackburn said.
Confirmed businesses so far include a Firkin’s Pub, Starbucks, a high-end jeweller, travel agency and several professional offices, Mr. Blackburn said.
He stressed public access is important and Crates Landing will enable the public to enjoy a new lakefront attraction, including a nature boardwalk around the protected wetland with information stations, in addition to the conference centre, indoor pool, health spa and fitness centre.
So far, about 60 per cent of the first phase has been sold, half to Georgina residents, he said.
According to their research, buyers are more interested in smaller units, which would mean the company could increase the number of units at the Grand Harbour location from 72 to 93, he added.
The 17-unit townhouse portion of the development has also been dropped in favour of 61 condo apartments.
The future seniors residence is being dropped as well, he added.
While that won’t change the development’s footprint, it will require rezoning to allow for the changes.
A public meeting with Crates’ neighbours has been held to outline the proposed changes, BrightStar planner Michael Smith said.
Part of the proposed changes are due to the more challenging economic climate and changing market conditions, Mr. Blackburn said.
Once complete, Crates Landing is expected to generate about 100 jobs, Mr. Blackburn added.
Construction will require about 800,000 man-hours, he said, adding much of the work and construction material will be done using local resources.
Crates Landing will be built to LEED-Canada certified specifications, reducing the complex’s annual electrical bill by 75 per cent, Mr. Blackburn said.
Additionally, ENWAVE Energy Corpo. is going to provide energy through ground source heat pumps and liquid-filled buried pipes to provide heating and air conditioning.
And, BrightStar is already making its presence felt in the community after becoming the title sponsor of the 20th annual George R. Richardson Conservation Dinner.
Crates Landing is the first phase of a major lakefront development that in the near future will include the even-larger Crates Harbour community incorporating the Crate Marine property on the south side of the Maskinonge River.