Demolition work underway at Collingwood site to make way for affordable housing

Rendering – Birch Street Affordable Housing Project -The selected proposal includes a 30-unit, 3-storey modular building in Collingwood, Ont.

The old buildings on Birch Street in Collingwood are coming down to make room for something new.

The County of Simcoe says demolition is beginning this week at 29 and 45 Birch Street, the first step in a redevelopment project aimed at creating more affordable housing for modest income households.

According to the County, the controlled demolition will clear the way for a new three-storey building expected to contain about 30 housing units. That’s more than triple the nine units currently located on the property.

Officials say the development is designed to blend in with the surrounding neighbourhood while giving future residents easy access to public transit and community services.

Collingwood Council previously offered the town-owned lands on Birch Street as a suitable location for new housing, according to the County. The project has already gone through several steps of public input, including community information sessions in July. Another public meeting was scheduled for Monday afternoon on the proposed zoning change.

Because this is a modular build, the County expects the new building to be ready for occupancy by spring 2026, though it notes that timeline may shift.

The Simcoe County Housing Corporation (SCHC), which operates several affordable rental properties in Collingwood, says current Birch Street tenants will be offered units at other SCHC buildings during construction. They will also be given the right of first refusal once the new building opens, with rents remaining at current levels plus provincial annual increases.