Downtown Master Plan

The Downtown Master Plan was developed through a community-building exercise where the public shared information and ideas, identified a common perception of their Downtown today, and created a vision for its future. The Master Plan Study findings are based on a robust public consultation process, which made over 700 points of contact with members of the community. Feedback from the community guided the development of Master Plan concepts and final recommendations.

The Downtown Master Plan outlines specific uses for eight (8) key locations to highlight opportunities for these sites. The Plan recommends future uses, design characteristics and how the proposed initiatives address opportunities to strengthen the Downtown’s ability to support a high quality of life and economic prosperity. This includes:

• Manitoba Street Reconstruction
• Lands Above the Falls (10 Entrance Drive)
• Woodchester Improvements
• Bracebridge Bay Park Improvements
• Carnegie Library Repurpose
• Post Office Site Reuse
• Memorial Park Improvements
• Memorial Arena Site Residential Development and Youth Park

As identified in the Downtown Master Plan, the Visitor Information Centre is proposed to relocate. The sale of the property at 3 Ecclestone Drive would tie into the DMP recommendations and provide the private sector with the opportunity to identify an appropriate use for the property that could enhance the downtown and the Town's tourism sector.

Disposition of 3 Ecclestone Drive would eliminate the burden of related capital expenses and would generate revenue that could be reinvested to fund strategic projects, including the revitalization of the historically designated Carnegie Library and redevelopment of the Lands Above the Falls (current home of RONA) as identified by the community’s vision in the DMP.

As there are significant capital investments identified in the DMP for a number of other key sites, selling this property would allow for more timely progress on the community’s vision for Downtown Bracebridge without adding strain to the taxpayer.