Joint Release with the County of Simcoe
Town of Wasaga Beach One Step Closer to New Affordable Seniors’ Housing Units
“With the highest proportion of older residents in Simcoe County, Wasaga Beach has a clear and urgent need for affordable seniors’ housing. In my first term as Mayor, we secured 99 units at Zoo Park to help meet that need, and during this term I’ve continued to advocate alongside Deputy Mayor Snell at the County to advance these additional units. This is great news for our community. We are grateful to Simcoe County for their continued commitment to affordable housing in Wasaga Beach and to ensuring our residents can age safely and with dignity close to home.”
WASAGA BEACH – Plans for a proposed affordable seniors’ housing development in Wasaga Beach are taking shape following the County of Simcoe’s approval of funding for preliminary design and engineering work.
The proposed development would represent a second phase of affordable housing at 175 Zoo Park Road, adjacent to the existing Simcoe County Housing Corporation (SCHC) building. The new proposed building would be designed to support seniors and aging in place.
In 2015, the Town of Wasaga Beach submitted a proposal to partner with the County of Simcoe to expand affordable housing at the site, citing growing demand among seniors and the Town’s readiness to proceed. Recognizing the need and that the site is close to shovel ready, the project is being prioritized as part of the County’s Affordable Housing Master Plan, with allocated budget for initial engineering design and costing for a project of this size and scope already previously approved by County Council.
The project will proceed through preliminary design and planning approvals in 2026. Concept designs and updated cost estimates are expected to be presented later this year for further consideration. Pending approvals, additional project details and timelines would be announced.
“This proposed Phase 2 project builds on the success of the Zoo Park Road community housing development and reflects the County’s commitment to working with our municipal partners to address local housing needs,” said Basil Clarke, Warden of Simcoe County. “This will be one of our first new projects as part of our new 10-Year Affordable Housing plan with the goal of supporting close to 21,000 new households across Simcoe County. We thank the Town of Wasaga Beach for their support and look forward to next steps in this exciting project.”
Quick Facts
- 34.7% of Wasaga Beach residents are aged 65 or older – the highest proportion in Simcoe County.
- The County housing development at 175 Zoo Park Road opened in 2020 and includes 99 affordable units for singles, families, and seniors.
- The proposed second phase could include approximately 100 one-bedroom units for seniors.
- The project is part of the County’s Building Up Simcoe County – Our Community Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness Prevention, which sets ambitious, yet achievable goals designed to shape a more responsive and resilient housing system that meets today’s challenges and lays the foundation for a stronger future.
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Media Contact
Media contacts:
Karla Findlay
Special Projects Leader, Town of Wasaga Beach
Email Karla
Andrea Walasek
Public Relations Consultant, County of Simcoe
Email Andrea
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