Connecting the Waterfront and Main Street
The Downtown Tomorrow: Linking Orillia's Core to the Water study (Downtown Tomorrow Plan) recommended 33 strategic initiatives and 20 priority action items to better connect Orillia’s downtown core and waterfront areas. The Downtown Tomorrow Plan identified opportunities to extend several City streets to the waterfront, redesign and extend Centennial Drive, and extend the retail experience to the waterfront.
This vision informed the development of 12 Guiding Development Principles that builds on Orillia’s rich heritage and natural setting. Connecting the waterfront and main street extends the historic walkable pattern of streets and blocks to the waterfront. The Waterfront Redevelopment Project is a major milestone on the City’s Downtown Tomorrow journey.
See the Guiding Development Principles.
Read the Downtown Tomorrow Plan.
The FRAM Concept
After a detailed RFQ and RFP process, the City of Orillia selected FRAM Building Group as the preferred proponent for the Waterfront Redevelopment Project.
The design concept as submitted by FRAM consists of a mixed-used development that includes waterfront townhomes, a stepped-back eight-storey mixed-use building at the corner of Coldwater and Front Streets, a variety of commercial space, green building practices, pedestrian linkages and more. Moving forward, the concept will be further developed and refined through the development approval process.
FRAM is known for its innovation, quality and community building initiatives. Their mandate is to design, develop and build sustainable communities where people ultimately want to live, work and play.
View the concept details.
Learn more about FRAM and their past developments by visiting their website at FRAMSlokker.com.
Current Status and Next Steps
The City of Orillia looks forward to working closely with FRAM as they progress through the development approval process for the strategic brownfield site that links our beautiful waterfront to our heritage downtown.
Over the coming months 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.
Receive updates on the project by signing up for the Waterfront Redevelopment Mailing List.
Find the current status update of the Waterfront Redevelopment Project.
Contact(s)
