Business Opportunities

The Municipality of Grey Highlands is seeking expressions of interest from qualified Proponents who are interested in developing a mixed residential and commercial development or developments (the “Development”) on certain strategically located Municipally-owned lands in downtown Markdale (the “Lands”).  The properties offer a unique opportunity for development located in the core of the Municipality’s largest urban settlement area. 

After months of community consultation and visioning, Council sees the Downtown Markdale Development undertaking as one of the most important projects in the Municipality’s recent history.  Development of the identified sites is envisioned to catalyze Markdale’s regional role, contribute to the revitalization of its downtown core, and enhance the experiences of citizens and visitors throughout the Municipality, contributing significantly to the character of the entire Grey Highlands region for generations.

Other publicly owned properties in the downtown area include:

• County Owned Lands in Markdale - possible location for future  affordable/attainable housing

Downtown Markdale Development RFP-F18-2022-04

Closing date:  May 16, 2022 - 3:00 pm

Full details at biddingo.com/greyhighlands

The Municipality of Grey Highlands’ Beaver Valley, the gateway to southern Georgian Bay, is located less than two hours north of Toronto, Canada’s largest city, and an international centre of business and finance.  Beaver Valley is close to large residential and business communities (including Owen Sound and Collingwood), resort areas, and Lake Huron’s majestic Georgian Bay.

On March 8, the Municipality of Grey Highlands and 2420124 Ontario Inc. (represented by Phil Calvano and Brian Ellis) entered into a Joint Venture Agreement that formalizes their commitment to collectively market and promote the opportunities available with the three properties that originally comprised the former Talisman Resort. The initiative will be seeking to attract the best potential and best use for these properties to support a thoughtful, sustainable and respectful undertaking that will provide social, environmental and economic benefit to the residents and businesses across Grey Highlands.  NOTE THAT THIS AGREEMENT EXPIRED ON MARCH 2ND, 2022.

The former Talisman Resort lands are the anchor properties in the heart of the Beaver Valley. Any future undertaking on these properties will have the opportunity to propel Grey Highlands and the region as a world-class tourism destination that offers remarkable products and experiences that are authentic, driven by visitor demand, exceed expectations, and align with the community cultural brand. Moreover, the joint venture has the potential to stimulate an undertaking that would support job creation, attract increased investment in the community, provide new stimulus to the Municipal tax base, and encourage the building of new local amenities to support communities needs.

Vision

To maximize the development potential of former Talisman Resorts lands to serve as the anchor for the revitalization of the Beaver Valley and by extension downtown Markdale and the greater Grey Highlands region.

Properties

2420124 ONTARIO INC. LANDS

• PLAN 168 PT LOTS 1 14 15 AND;16 PT PURDY ST CON 5 PT LOT;7 CON 6 PT LOT 7 RP 16R8624; PARTS 7 TO 11 AND 13 TO 17;PT PART 1 RP 16R8807 PARTS 1

MUNICIPALITY OF GREY HIGHLANDS

• EUPHRASIA CON 6 PT LOT 7 RP;16R10463 PART 1
• PLAN 168 LOTS 6, 11, 12, 13,;14, 20, 21, 22 PT LOTS 3, 4,;5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17,;18, 19 PT MCLEAN ST PT PURDY;ST 16R8624 PARTS 3, 4, 5;  PLAN 168 LOTS 6, 11, 12, 13,;14, 20, 21, 22 PT LOTS 3, 4,;5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17,;18, 19 PT MCLEAN ST PT PURDY;ST 16R8624 PARTS 3, 4, 5;  PLAN 168 LOTS 6, 11, 12, 13,;14, 20, 21, 22 PT LOTS 3, 4,;5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17,;18, 19 PT MCLEAN ST PT PURDY;ST 16R8624 PARTS 3, 4, 5; PLAN 168 PT LOTS 1 TO 3 PT;PURDY ST CON 5 PT LOT 7 RP;16R8624 PARTS 2 6 12 AND 18; PLAN 168 LOTS 6, 11, 12, 13,;14, 20, 21, 22 PT LOTS 3, 4,;5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17,;18, 19 PT MCLEAN ST PT PURDY;ST 16R8624 PARTS 3, 4, 5

For further information please contact info@beavervalleydevelopment.ca  

Beaver Valley Development Project Supporting Documents

Beaver Valley Floodline Mapping (Heathcote-Kimberley 1995)

Flood Risk Map (Kimberley 1995)

Lower Talisman - County OP Alt

Lower Talisman - Developable Municipal Lands

Lower Talisman - GSCA Regulated Area

Lower Talisman - Land Uses

Lower Talisman - NEC Designations

Lower Talisman - Zoning

Lower Talisman - Zoning Alt

Upper Talisman - Developable Municipal Lands

Upper Talisman - Land Use Constraints

Upper Talisman - Land Uses

Upper Talisman - Zoning

Beaver Valley Development Project FAQ

On February 2nd, Grey Highlands Council passed a bylaw to approve the sale of the Municipally-owned lands in the Beaver Valley to Westway Capital for a total sale price  $2.5 million. The closing date will be on or before July 10, 2022.

• Media Release: Municipality of Grey Highlands Passes Bylaw to Approve Sale of Beaver Valley Lands
• Appraised value of upper and lower Talisman lands (May 2nd, 2021):  $1.27 million
  • Appraisal prepared by Antec Appraisal Group, in accordance with the Canadian Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, as developed by the Standards Board of the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
• Upper Talisman lands:  58.9 acres
• Lower Talisman lands:  74.8 acres
• The Municipality's Joint Venture Agreement with 2420124 Ontario Inc. (to market and promote the properties associated with the former Talisman Resort lands) expired on March 2nd, 2022.
• Any development on the sites must meet the requirements of both Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC).
• The redevelopment of these recreational lands has been years in the making.  Talisman Resort has changed ownership several times over the years. When it opened in 1963, Talisman Resort was the largest ski resort in Ontario, and at its peak employed over 300 workers.
• The two Municipally-owned properties in the Beaver Valley (upper and lower Talisman) were originally private lands and were obtained by the Municipality through the tax sale process and foreclosure.
  • The Municipality's intent, when they severed off the upper Talisman portion after the tax sale, was to hold these lands for future development.
• The Municipal sale of lands to Westway Capital is only related to the lands owned by the Municipality (upper and lower Talisman).
• Westway Capital continues to explore opportunities with the private sector owners of the former lodge property.
• The Beaver Valley corridor (from Hoggs Falls in the south to north of Epping) is a 40 kilometre corridor. Of the 11,200 hectares of land in the Valley, approximately 3,330 hectares of land are in public ownership, amounting to 30% of the lands.
• Grey County contracted with thinkCOMPASS to attract investment to large County initiatives, following the terms of the County procurement process. The Municipality of Grey Highlands is permitted to piggyback on County procurement and did so in this case.
• The Municipality's investment attraction consultants, thinkCOMPASS, tracked all inquiries that were made related to the properties identified in the Joint Venture Agreement. Between December 2020 and June 2021, there were 23 inquiries about the properties. All interested parties were responded to, and provided all relevant information to their inquiry. thinkCOMPASS maintained a tracking list of all inquiries and shared this list with the Municipality throughout the process.
• While the Municipality and the investment attraction consultants thinkCOMPASS, received numerous inquiries about the properties, they did not receive any formal offers prior to Council's receipt of Westway Capital's offer of purchase and sale in June 2021.
• Ombudsman Ontario:  Acquisition or Disposal of Land 239(2)(c)
• Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruling - 14 March 2022