UPDATE: This story has been updated with comments from Mayor Letham.
KAWARTHA LAKES-The idea of a Walmart coming to Lindsay could be dead. Mason homes is pulling out the Horizons development, the site of a proposed Walmart.
A notice sent out in a newsletter states “Mason Homes announces that we will not be moving forward with our Horizons Community in Lindsay.” Horizons was marketed as a condo, townhouse and single family home development on Highway 35 in Lindsay. The announcement then goes on to direct potential buyers to Mason Homes developments in Peterborough and Port Hope.
The Horizons project was part of a residential/commercial development that was hoped to bring a Walmart to town. It’s unclear where this leaves the commercial development.
Representatives from the City of Kawartha Lakes at first said they knew nothing about the fact that Mason Homes had pulled out but later on Thursday the planning department told Kawartha 411 that the property has changed hands and is now owned by the Craft Development Corporation. They say Craft will be doing something with the property but there’s no firm plans at this time. We have been unable to reach Craft for comment as of publication.
On Friday, Mayor Andy Letham said Craft Development had found another company to develop the residential portion of the property. “The Craft Group of Companies and the Kingsmen Group Inc. have purchased the lands at Highway 35 and Colborne Street from Mason Homes. The Craft Group will be developing the commercial portion of the property as announced this summer. Kingsmen Group Inc. from Toronto will be developing the residential portion of the property. Plans are moving ahead quickly to fill, prepare and service the land as required in order to facilitate construction. Commercial occupancy is targeted for early 2019.” Kawartha 411 has not been able to confirm this with Craft.
Last June Mason Homes representatives joined reps from Craft Development Corporation for an announcement on the the development of the commercial lands at Highway 35 and Colborne Street in Lindsay back in June. At the time neither would confirm the name of the tenant but said a big name was coming to town. There was speculation it would be Walmart.
At this point it’s still unclear what happened to cause Mason Homes to pull out of the development. We have made numerous inquiries with Mason Homes but have not received a repsonse. A call to Craft Developments has not been returned.
We are still digging into the story and will bring you more as soon as we can.
