Imagine a new building in downtown Bradford West Gwillimbury.
If its owner requests funding from a town grant to fix up its interior, do you approve it or just call it a business cost?
That was one of the issues brought up during a special council meeting to start a review of the town’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grant program Tuesday evening.
“I’m thinking about … the other businesses that are not in the downtown core that are in Bradford that don’t have any opportunity for these grants whatsoever. There’s a lot of businesses that can’t touch it,” said Coun. Peter Ferragine.
“So how fair is it when we’re talking about interior renovations and retrofitting spaces for businesses when really it’s the cost of doing business?”
He pointed to a Cachet Estate Homes subdivision planned for 200 Dissette St., north of the GO Transit station, as one example, although the company has applied for tax and development charge breaks.
The company is expected to receive a downtown CIP grant worth $2.5 million, according to a town staff document.
“Cachet Estates is building a subdivision down on the 6th Line and Simcoe Road. They’re doing very well,” Ferragine said. “How can you justify giving them a $2.5 million CIP grant for a subdivision they’re going to build and make a ton of money on? There’s certain things we’ve got to take a look at here.”
Deputy Mayor James Leduc urged councillors not to be bothered by grants to new construction.
“Our vision was … to bring more residential downtown,” he said, noting council decided Cachet would be part of that.
“Don’t let the new bother you. It creates downtown traffic, creates opportunities for these businesses in the downtown core. We want new down there. That’s when you get more investment downtown because everyone says, ‘This is the place to go now.’”
Two other pending downtown CIP applications include 210 and 240 Holland St. W., just west of TSC Stores, each worth $360,000, according to a town staff document.
“There’s lots here … that I consider new. It’s way more than 200 Dissette,” said Coun. Gary Baynes. “Let’s look at the criteria… new versus old, or new versus renovation, or new versus 50 years old. Then we can control the criteria.”
Interior renovations should also be covered, Leduc added, to help business owners bring aging buildings up to code.
Mayor Rob Keffer suggested town staff look at making changes to the downtown CIP so more accessibility renovations qualify for grants, and to put a caveat on interior renovations that the buildings have to be at least 50 years old.
Michael Kemp, the town's economic development marketing co-ordinator, told council those interior renovation grants helped attract some downtown businesses.
The building where Starbucks is now located was vacant for three years until its owner did interior renovations that enticed the coffee chain, he said.
The Great Canadian Dollar Store, formerly a Beer Store, had been empty for about 10 years before its current owners did renovations, he said.
As well, Brick N Fire moved into its Holland Street West location after the building’s owner did work to its facade, he added.
“We’ve seen at least 18 new businesses come because of this CIP,” he said.
Incentivizing patios in downtown Bradford is also on the list of the town’s economic development department, Kemp said.
In total, the downtown CIP — which covers a sprawling area between Professor Day Drive, and Dissette and Bridge streets — has made payments of about $885,000, according to a town staff document.
“It has really made our town an awful lot better,” Keffer said.
Currently, the town has three CIPs — for downtown, industrial areas, and seniors housing — that give grants to companies to kickstart development and do construction improvements.
Council has requested town staff come back to them with a report that summarizes minor changes to the downtown CIP, based on their discussion, at a later time.
Coun. Gary Lamb excused himself from discussion on the downtown CIP due to pecuniary interest because one of his employers has a $15,000 application before the town.
MedReleaf invests $78 million in Bradford
Council also discussed the town’s industrial CIP, which covers Reagans and Artesian industrial parks.
The largest return on investment the town has seen so far is from MedReleaf — with a CIP grant worth about $90,000, and a total investment by the company of about $78 million, according to a town staff document.
In total, about $1 million in industrial CIP grants have been approved, with a total investment by the businesses of about $87 million, read the document.
There is also an additional $8.6 million in pending industrial CIP grants, the document read.
The payback from MedReleaf’s investment is “significant,” said Jonathan Hack, director of Sierra Planning and Management and an architect of the CIP program, who attended Tuesday’s meeting.
“You’re not just trying to help the salvage yards. You’re trying to get buildings built that are going to be long term and sustainable,” he said.
“This was a great jump start for that industrial park,” added Lamb. “We need to support this program.”
Council voted to continue the industrial CIP grant program.
A staff report outlining any changes to all three CIPs is expected to come before council at a later date.