Midhurst/September 10, 2025 – The County of Simcoe is advising residents of their intent to demolish current buildings located at 29 and 45 Birch Street in Collingwood to make way for an affordable housing redevelopment planned on the site to provide more housing units to modest income households. This will be a controlled demolition, anticipated to begin during the week of September 15, 2025.
| PROJECT: | Demolition of buildings at 29 and 45 Birch Street to make way for more planned affordable housing units |
|---|---|
| Date | Beginning the week of September 15, 2025 |
| Location | 29 and 45 Birch Street Collingwood, ON |
| Details | This will be a controlled demolition, beginning the week of September 15th and safety is a paramount consideration. Those who may be close to the demolition site are asked to maintain a safe distance (as marked on site), observe all safety protocols surrounding the site, and refrain from disrupting crews as they work on the site. |
About the planned affordable housing redevelopment project
This project is intended to replace the current structures at 29 and 45 Birch Street with a new, modern building designed to be aesthetically pleasing and that respects the neighbourhood’s character, while providing future residents with convenient access to local transit and services. The new three-storey building is expected to be home to approximately 30 units, an increase from the existing nine units that are currently at the location.
With a need for more affordable housing within the area, the Town of Collingwood responded to the County of Simcoe’s Municipal Call for Proposals in 2024 with the Town-owned lands located at 29 & 45 Birch Street as a suitable location for additional housing affordable to modest income households. The site already has access to amenities and site services.
Two public Community Information Sessions were held on July 15, 2025, in Collingwood to gather feedback and provide information about the planned project. The preliminary design of the project was endorsed by Town of Collingwood and County of Simcoe Councils, with final planning approvals and permitting currently in progress. Residents are invited to share input at the Public Meeting regarding the proposed zoning change for this property on Monday, September 15, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m. (during the regular Council meeting). Participation is available in-person or via Zoom. For further details about this meeting visit: https://www.collingwood.ca/governance-engagement/news-notices/notice-public-meeting-proposed-zoning-change-29-45-birch-street.
About the County of Simcoe
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
About The Town of Collingwood
The Town of Collingwood is a progressive community located in the heart of a four-season recreation area on the southern shore of Georgian Bay. The area is well known for its many natural amenities and its rich heritage. Collingwood is a destination for tourism and many business, sporting, and cultural events Collingwood acts as a gateway to the South Georgian Bay region, with stunning landscapes that encourage an active lifestyle, and inspire the local arts and culture community. Downtown Collingwood might just surprise you with 30 plus restaurants, 60 plus boutique shops, spas for relaxing, and live music for grooving…all in the only downtown core recognized by Canada’s Registrar of Historic Places! More recently, the harbourfront area is emerging as an extension of the downtown district. Plans for expanding the amenities and events in the harbourfront area promise to make this a much more prominent tourism destination.