Proposed Sale of 3 Ecclestone Drive

On Wednesday, August 14, Council approved the recommendation that the Town retain municipal ownership of 94 Manitoba Street, known as the Carnegie Library, for municipal operations, aligning with the community recommendations made in the Downtown Master Plan. This location will become the future home to the Town’s Planning and Development Department including Economic Development, Planning Services and Building Services as well as the Muskoka Small Business Centre.

To enhance access to vital business and community services, the Town will also explore co-location opportunities with the Downtown Bracebridge Business Improvement Area, Visitor Information Centre, and Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce, with the goal of creating a Business Development Centre to be located within a portion of 94 Manitoba Street. This proposed hub would enable aspiring and current business owners to access a number of services under one roof including one-on-one consultation, business planning and support, guidance regarding funding opportunities, and more. Consultations with these business support organizations is underway to determine feasibility and interest in co-location.

The Town will engage a professional to assist with space planning to maximize benefits to the community, accommodate all desired services and plan an efficient layout that meets the operational needs of all parties. This location will also include the potential for storage and display space for a portion of the Woodchester historical collection.

The Carnegie Library was one of eight key opportunity sites outlined in the Downtown Master Plan. Key initiatives included retaining the site as a public building and repurposing it to best suit municipal needs and opportunities.

Next steps on the project will commence in the fall with some occupancy expected early in 2025.

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.

3 Ecclestone Drive (Bird Mill Mews)

3 Ecclestone Drive is currently owned by the Town and leased to two tenants: the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce in the front, who operates a Visitor Information Centre (VIC) on behalf of the Town, and the Riverwalk Restaurant in the back, where it is being utilized to prep for catering services.

Built in 1918, Bird Mill Mews is the former warehouse for the Bird Woollen Mill. It was originally a single story building and has undergone significant transformations over time. Historical references indicate that the Bird Woollen Mill was operated between 1872 and 1954. The Mill buildings were abandoned after the mill closed. The Town acquired the building from a group of local business men in the late 1950s for tax arrears. In 1966, it was sold to H.J. Brooks and Sons and was used primarily for storage. In the late 1980s, the building belonged to Ken Cummings and was leased as commercial space. The Town repurchased the building in 1990 and used it for storage while a proposal for upgrades to the building and property were considered. In 1994, the Chamber of Commerce, an art gallery and a café began leasing the building.

The building has had significant renovations over the years and is in good condition for resale. While the building is the last remaining structure associated with the Bird Woollen Mill operations aside from Woodchester (the Bird family home, owned and maintained by the Town), it does not have heritage features and is not historically designated.