A province-wide shortage of skilled tradespeople has led to some setbacks for a local development, but the site is still a flurry of activity.
Matchedash Lofts, at the corner of Mississaga and Matchedash streets, has sold all but eight of the 76 units and is eyeing a July opening.
The sales threshold required to begin construction was reached in October 2018. Geoffrey Campbell, managing partner with Oakleigh Developments, had once hoped for a fall 2019 opening. That got pushed to March 2020, and now the plan is to have it operating in July.
“We’re dealing with the trades shortage that’s going on all over Ontario,” Campbell said, noting the goal for opening “was always going to be dictated by sales.”
“We’re still progressing,” he added. “The worst thing that can happen in construction is to stop. We’re still going.”
Work has never halted on site, Campbell said. The tricky part has been co-ordinating the work of the various tradespeople involved. Take window production, for example.
“The window factories have the capacity and the machinery to get it done, but they don’t always have the labour,” he said. “We need more kids going into trades.”
There is plenty of exterior work being done. Windows are being installed on the south wall, and masons have been adding brick as well as working on the elevation of the laneway at the southwest part of the structure.
Once the mechanical penthouse, which houses the boiler, cooling tower and other elements, is finished, crews can waterproof the roof. That’s when much of the interior work can begin.
“Right now, it’s a lot of heavy machinery, but once it’s water-tight, there will be (workers) everywhere inside,” Campbell said.
The development will have a commercial element. The ground floor will include space for retail, while the second and third floors will have office space for medical or professional services.
“We’re going to be putting together a marketing package for potential tenants,” Campbell said. “Our main focus has been on construction and residential.”
Besides the shortage of trades workers, Campbell said the only other major hurdle came early in the process — selling the idea of condo living in downtown Orillia.
“We expected the sales absorption to go faster,” he said, noting government policies such as the stress test for first-time buyers contributed to the slow start.
“People weren’t really looking at this as an area for condos,” he added. “This is a new way of living in downtown Orillia, but people have embraced it. They’re very excited to get on board now.”
