With the hopes of a hotel moving into the west end of Bradford West Gwillimbury, town council has deferred nearly $1 million in development charges for a local property owner.
Bradford Shopping Centres Inc. is in the process of severing part of its land at the northeast corner of Holland Street and 10 Sideroad, which is planned for a land sale and development of a hotel.
The company’s site plan lists a hotel, around the corner from Marshalls, as Comfort Inn & Suites.
“I’m certainly in favour of this. It’s a needed product to bring to our community — a hotel,” said BWG Deputy Mayor James Leduc, adding he hopes to see work starting this summer.
The exact total of the development charges that will be deferred is $971,195.64, according to a town staff report.
Bradford Shopping Centres would have made its first development charge payment when severance occurs, but that has now been delayed until the town grants building occupancy at 545 Holland St. W.
The company will pay 30 per cent at initial occupancy, 30 per cent one year later, and 40 per cent one year after that, read the report.
“This is a refreshing move by staff and council to bring development to market,” Geoff Nelles, of Bradford Shopping Centres, told council during a meeting Tuesday evening.
Coun. Gary Baynes, former chair of the town’s Active Transportation Committee, said he heard many complaints from sports leagues over the years of a lack of overnight accommodation in town.
This proposed location for a hotel is near several sports facilities, including Henderson Park, the BWG Leisure Centre, and Joe Magani Park, Baynes pointed out.
“Everybody needs this. Let’s get it going,” he said.
