Development and growth putting Collingwood on the four-seasons map

Collingwood has long been a popular vacation destination, mostly as a weekend winter getaway to enjoy some of the best skiing in Ontario at The Blue Mountains. Summertime, too, has seen increasing activity, as residents from the GTA and elsewhere head to “Blue” for cycling, golf and many of the other activities and festivals in the area.
But there’s a lot more happening in this part of Simcoe County, situated on the Nottawasaga Bay at the Southern Georgian Bay Region. A beautiful natural location will do that.

Landmark revitalization

Economically, it’s fair to say that Collingwood is still an area in transition. The town’s traditional industrial base has been in decline for years, though the waterfront Collingwood Terminals grain elevators remain standing as a reminder of this heritage. Some view the massive grey structure, dormant for more than 25 years, as an eyesore for such an area blessed with natural surroundings.

The Town, however, has committed to the Terminals Point Project, a major undertaking to not just revitalize the terminals but to reimagine and invigorate the spit as a whole, with new public spaces and enhanced existing amenities – including a new condo development.

Involving a partnership between the Town and developers Streetcar and Dream, the Terminals Point concept “enables enhanced public access to the Spit, the Bay and the Terminal building itself in ways that would not have been previously possible,” Streetcar says. “The Terminal building is not just being preserved, instead it’s being infused with new life; becoming a cultural, economic and recreational community asset and a beacon for sustainability for the Town of Collingwood.”

On Nov. 27, in fact, the Town held a public session to review the concept design for the redevelopment of the Terminals Point public spaces and marina, which align with the recommendations outlined in the Waterfront Master Plan.

Such projects underline the growing importance of Collingwood to maximize its potential as a four-season destination, blessed with mountains on one side and Georgian Bay on the other, while developing new economic opportunities. And to do it all at a pace and size that doesn’t result in the loss of greenspace or the small-town feeling that residents and visitors alike have come to love.

Market performance

Given the area’s popularity as a playground destination, real estate in Collingwood sometimes shows the fluctuations that typify the recreational property market.

While many markets in the province have shown less than stellar results the last couple years, Collingwood may be especially well poised to take advantage of strengthening conditions brought on by declining interest rates. Moreover, housing stock in the area is increasingly of the permanent residential variety, not just vacation homes.

The median price of a single-family detached home in Southern Georgian Bay’s (Collingwood, Meaford, Thornbury) recreational property market for the first nine months of 2024 decreased 4.7 per cent year-over-year to $853,000, according to Royal LePage. Meanwhile, the median price of a condominium decreased 3.5 per cent to $627,000 during the same period. For those looking to buy a house or condominium slopeside or at mountain base, prices typically start at $1.5 million and $450,000, respectively.

“Recreational buyers have yet to demonstrate a strong reaction to lower interest rates,” says Desmond Von Teichman, broker, Royal LePage Locations North. “We continue to see potential purchasers sitting on the fence, hoping to be the beneficiaries of additional cuts to borrowing costs. As a result, with new listings and sales activity in a holding pattern, we have watched recreational prices continue to soften.

“Looking ahead, we foresee more homebuyers moving off the sidelines as lending rates continue to ease, resulting in a steady increase to recreational prices,” says Von Teichman. “Given that inventory levels remain low, I predict an influx of demand could quickly put upward pressure on prices, as consumers feel more confident about the trajectory of the market and seek to benefit from lower borrowing costs.”

Royal LePage is forecasting that the median price of a single-family detached home in Southern Georgian Bay will increase 10 per cent over the next 12 months.

Translation: With declining interest rates, would-be buyers may be able to take advantage of these lower purchase prices while they still can.

New home development

With a prized location and blessed natural abundance in Collingwood, it’s no surprise that new home development is taking place to cater to growing demand – much of it from buyers in Toronto selling their residence in the city and moving north for retirement.

Given that it involves a heritage structure with prized marina views, Terminals Point Project and its proposed 117 condo units of various sizes is bound to attract a lot of attention from prospective homebuyers. It will also feature a boutique hotel, shops, restaurants and wellness amenities.

Another major project set to change the Collingwood landscape is Freed Blue Mountain, a master-designed development offering luxury hotel living in Blue Mountain Village, launched on Nov. 16.

Nestled in the heart of the Village just steps away from the ski hill, Freed Blue Mountain will feature five stories and 196 upscale residential units ranging from 350 to 1,100 sq. ft., with more than 18,000 sq. ft. of new retail space within the Blue Mountain Village community.

One of the more established developers in the area is Georgian Communities, which has a number of prominent new developments in the area, some right in Collingwood, and others nearby.

“We’re excited to begin initial home construction at Craighurst Crossing in the Village of Craighurst and Victoria Annex in Collingwood, with additional sales releases scheduled for the fourth quarter,” Mike Parker, vice-president of sales and marketing at Georgian, told NextHome. “These milestones represent significant progress in two of our most eagerly awaited communities. Additionally, Windfall at Blue Mountain and Braestone in Oro-Medonte offer final-phase purchasing opportunities, drawing strong interest.”

Parker cites the Blue Mountains’ four-season appeal, and downtown Collingwood’s historic allure, as just some of the attraction to the area.

The beauty of Southern Georgian Bay is also its proximity to other sought-after locales, which are also growing into popular new-home destinations. If you’ve visited the area recently, recall the drive up, and passing through surrounding towns such as Barrie, Shelburne, Horseshoe Valley, Innisfil, Holland Landing, Oro Medonte, Beeton, Dundalk, Wasaga… all of these areas have new lowrise home developments from prominent GTA builders such as Flato Developments, Georgian, Democrat Homes, Rosehaven Homes, Geranium and Stonebridge Building Group.

Nature lover’s paradise

At any time of year, Collingwood is a nature lover’s paradise. Of course, there’s expert skiing at Blue Mountain in winter, as well as countless snow-shoeing, snowmobiling or cross-country skiing options.

In the warmer months, hit the links at any one of the handful of championship courses in the area, from Cranberry Golf Course, to Monterra Golf at Blue Mountain Resort, to the Georgian Bay Club and more.

Or book a breathtaking treetop canopy walk, or zipline adventure, or just hit the beach for a swim or canoe or kayak rental. And if you’ve never been, head over to Wasaga Beach, the world’s longest freshwater beach, a short distance away.

Festivals? You want festivals? Collingwood’s got lots of them, from the Peak to Shore Music Festival, Keys to Collingwood Street Piano Festival and the Collingwood Music Festival.

Location, location, location

In Simcoe County, on the Nottawasaga Bay, at the southern point of Georgian Bay; population 21,793; 160 kms north of Toronto; 21 kms to Wasaga Beach.

Key landmarks
• Blue Mountain Resort
• Collingwood Curling Club
• Collingwood Museum
• Cranberry Golf Course
• Creative Simcoe Street
• Eddie Bush Memorial Arena
• The Blue Mountains
• Tyrolean Village Resorts

Select housing developments
Collingwood and area

Braestone Estates
by Georgian Communities
georgiancommunities.ca

Beachway Crossing
by Stonebridge Building Group
stonebridgebg.com

Craighurst Crossing
by Georgian Communities
georgiancommunities.ca

Edgewood Greens
by Flato Developments
flatogroup.com

Freed Blue Mountain
by Freed Hotels & Resorts
freedbluemountain.ca

Forest Heights Estates
by Democrat Homes
democrathomes.com

Greystone Village
by Flato Developments
flatogroup.com

Terminals Point Condos
by Streetcar Developments and Dream Unlimited
dream.ca
streetcar.ca

Victoria Annex
by Georgian Communities
georgiancommunities.ca

Windfall at Blue
by Georgian Communities
georgiancommunities.ca

Woodstone Trails
by Flato Developments
flatogroup.com