Town of Bracebridge approves Request for Proposal for Former Memorial Arena Redevelopment

The proposed development calls for 108 housing units

Town of Bracebridge approved the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Former Memorial Arena Redevelopment, in the March 3, 2026, meeting.

The approval was followed by a delegation from resident Carolyn Wentworth expressing concerns about the impact of the development of two apartments proposed on the land.

She expressed that support for the proposal should be pending “safeguards, transparency, and strategy.”

She said, “It’s a phenomenal consideration” requiring diligence in areas such as a parking strategy for the loss off existing municipal parking needed for events such as Fire and Ice and the Santa Clause Parade, and the impending visual impacts of the Town by building up to 5-6 storeys in the area.

She said the Town should do an impact study first “so the public understands how congestion and event logistics can be affected.”

Other considerations should also include crime prevention, lighting, pedestrian and youth safety, and “the land conveyed at $1.00.”

Mayor, Rick Maloney, advised that that Council is just dealing with the RFP today, and land use decisions will go through a public process before the development takes place.

He described the RFP as “an opportunity to collaborate with some very key partners,” including Greystone Development, Habitat for Humanity, and the District of Muskoka, and it “creates affordable, attainable housing stock in a key area of our community.”

He added that in addition to the initiative