Full Speed Ahead At
Collingwood Shipyards
Construction Continues On New Homes
In The Shipyards Waterfront Community
In The Shipyards Waterfront Community
After years of planning and site preparation, The Shipyards is launching its new downtown Collingwood waterfront community. Already, some people are now calling The Shipyards home, with the latest residences on a portion of north Maple Street now complete. In addition, a second model home will be completed this fall. The underground parking structure is substantially complete at Mackinaw Condo A, and 20 of 48 residential foundations were complete as of the end of August. Wood framing is now underway along this portion of the waterfront development with the first occupancies available in spring, 2010. The underground parking structure is presently under construction at the site of the Launch 1 building. Wood framing occupancies will begin this fall with first occupancies available in the spring.
Tara Parsons is the Director of Sales for The Shipyards. You immediately pick up on Tara's exuberance as she talks about the latest on-site developments as construction continues.
"The Side Launch will include a nice wide promenade, great seating and fully accessible areas for everyone to be able to walk along the water" Parsons said. Construction is underway on the Side Launch 1 building that will sit on land where huge lake freighters were once built and launched in the Collingwood Shipyards. "Launch 1 will have condominium suites, underground parking and elevators. It is a 3 storey, warehouse style building that actually replicates a lot of the structures that were in the shipyard property" Parsons said.
Parsons said the site preparation included the reconstruction of the harbour wall. "In order to build all along the harbour wall and up at the front of the site itself along the north side, we had to ensure that we brought it up to a very high standard of engineering, and that was to sink into the harbour itself, steel pilings and reinforce it and cap it off with concrete which we're just completing now" Tara said.
Parsons said that new home owners are often quick to ask about where they will be able to tie up their boat. She says day dockage will be available for power boats along the Side Launch basin, allowing day visitors an opportunity to enter the Shipyards, shop and visit and go to restaurants during the day. "Over at the dry dock the plan is to have more of a non-power area where kayaks, canoes, rowers, dragon boaters and people like that who are just out fresh water paddling can also tie up" Parsons added.
The green space that borders the western boundary of The Shipyards is now complete. This seven acre park-like setting offers breathtaking views of the waterfront and niagara escarpment. "We're excited to be able to open this up within the next year to the public which will allow everybody to be able to enjoy the waterfront the way it is meant to be enjoyed" Parsons said. The green space will offer walking and bike trails, with a waterside amphitheatre. Parsons says the amphitheatre will be a perfect setting for jazz concerts along the waterfront for example. Parsons says that the electrical has already been installed to allow for sound systems at the outdoor concerts. "Having this great venue is something that I think has been a vision for a lot of people" Parsons added.
The underground parking structure for the Sidelaunch 1 building is presently under construction. Launch 1 will have condominium suites, underground parking and elevators. Wood framing above ground will begin this fall, with first occupancies in Spring, 2010.
For more information about The Shipyards, call Tara Parsons at (705) 446-2626. Toll free, call 1-877-446-2626. You can email Tara at tparsons@framgroup.com and of course, you can visit The Shipyards online at www.theshipyards.com.