We hope Pearle Hospitality’s Elora Mill project soon gets underway.
Approval of its heritage permit application represents another hurdle passed. Despite a positive working relationship with council and staff, the system seemed to get ahold of this project.
Apart from a noisy cabal flexing its muscle and making the process longer, it seems to us the community is pretty much on side with the project. Hopefully Pearle Hospitality has the stamina and capital behind them to see the concept to fruition. It’s been a long road thus far.
The project itself will be constructed in phases. It makes the job easier to manage, easier to finance and easier to understand. It has to be hoped that the enthusiasm for the project continues as each phase passes. As more than one councillor said in not so many words – this is a community changer.
We are not familiar with another private project in this county that will represent such an incredible investment – certainly something as transformative – to a downtown core.
This is the quintessential example of an economic development opportunity most communities crave and will never get a chance to see happen.
Ironically, apart from a bit of glad-handing and positive affirmations, economic development types are just along for the ride with a project of this scale. It is a company with a vision and private capital that will be driving this operation.
Acknowledging that, it is gratifying to see our local council and local staff working with a developer to get a project underway. Although it is always a balancing act to ensure engineering and planning integrity, working with the applicant rather than setting up roadblocks is a welcome concept indeed.
Let’s get on with it, and build something special.
