The District of Muskoka is considering decommissioning 36 affordable housing units in Gravenhurst and Huntsville and replacing them with 78 modern units, but questions are swirling about what to do with the tenants while the work is done.
During a District Committee of the Whole meeting held yesterday, councillors heard that several aging semi-detached housing units on Pinedale Road in Gravenhurst and Meadow Park Drive in Huntsville have been deemed uninhabitable or in need of significant repair.
The Committee considered a motion to proceed with decommissioning units that are no longer safe to occupy, including the relocation of impacted tenants. They also considered incorporating the decommissioning of the remaining units, as well as redevelopment timelines, into future capital planning and phasing strategies.
According to Kevin Boyle, the District Manager of Capital Projects, redevelopment plans for the Pinedale Road site include removing 14 existing units and replacing them with a proposed 34-unit, three-storey apartment building. At Meadow Park Drive, the plan involves the demolition of 22 aging units—a mix of apartments and duplexes—while retaining 28 units still in fair condition. In addition, a new 44-unit, three-storey apartment building is proposed for construction on the site.
Both housing complexes were originally developed in the 1970s as semi-detached and low-rise units. Staff reported that water infiltration and structural damage, which worsened significantly over the past winter, left several units unsafe to inhabit. While not all units are currently affected, staff emphasized that substantial investment would be needed to ensure all units—both damaged and intact—remain safe and livable.
The issue of tenant relocation during the redevelopment process was a key concern for several councillors.
Boyle acknowledged the challenge, stating that District staff would work closely with affected families to find temporary or permanent housing solutions during construction.
However, not all councillors were convinced. Councillor Guy Burry expressed reservations about the estimated $32 million cost of the project and the associated expense of relocating residents.
“Where is the money coming from?” Burry asked. “Taxes are already too high. At what point do we say we can’t afford this, or that we need to reprioritize?”
A final decision on the motion has yet to be made, and staff are expected to return with a more detailed capital plan and funding strategy at a future meeting.
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Thanks Angela for bravely sharing your terrible experiences with District Housing. I hope that Mr Boyle will be able to make changes in administration and management and fulfill current responsibilities to tenants who will be displaced by our “uninhabitable” properties- District of Muskoka “slum landlord” says a lot about our priorities. More committees, meetings, unable to overcome barriers to adequately maintain properties, or fulfill housing responsibilities.
I have lived in District housing since 2004, with 13 of those years in the units on Pinedale road. I do not only speak for myself, but for many other friends and neighbors who live, or have lived in District housing. When maintenance issues arise, the repairs are ignored, put off, and/or fixed with a minimum standard that it will often break again. I have had to tell the maintenance person what the problem was several times, and was ignored. I have sent in lists of repairs that need to be made, with no response for years to my requests. When I moved into the unit I was told the kitchen was completely renovated. Within the month, black mould spots appeared all over the ceiling, the floor tiles started cracking, and the tap was loose. These maintenance issues have been ongoing for many years and instead of the real issues being dealt with, I have been threatened and harassed by District Housing Staff. I was forced into the position to get assistance from a lawyer because of the level of harassment. The threats and harassment, including stalking and/or bullying have primarily come from the District Housing Worker Sammi Murdock and her boss, Brenda Boothby, Reginal District of Muskoka Housing Manager, including others in the past. They have also threatened and harassed guests of mine.
In January of 2025, water was pouring in almost every room on the house as a result of the ice buildup in the roof. This has resulted in the black mould to flourish more. In April 2025, I received a notice stating that asbestos was found in the unit and I would need to move out. I was not offered another house, only given termination notices to leave. The unit beside me had a notice on the back door stating that asbestos was found in the unit and it was condemned. The notice is legally supposed to be posted on the front door. One of my neighbors has a bedroom wall that will fall out with one push. She has not been offered suitable housing either.
The article from September 16th states that the ‘houses have been deemed uninhabitable or in significant need of repair’. As a tenant in District Housing, I can verify that the responsibility falls on the District for extremely poor management, zero pride in their work, and hiring people who do not have the skill to do the job properly.
It is also stated in the article: ‘Boyle acknowledged the challenge, stating that District staff would work closely with affected families to find temporary or permanent housing solutions during construction.’
I do not know one person that the District has worked with to find temporary or permanent housing in this situation.
I have many pictures and emails to back up and prove the negligence and harassment of the District, and I have much more information which I can share.
Thank you,
Angela Cragg
I am always impressed with the show of plants and flowers on the streets of our downtown, but am pretty pi#$ed with the way everything is being neglected once the summer help has ended. Anyone noticed how the flowers are struggling on though the plants are suffering? I checked a few the other day and found no sign of moisture. Lawrence of Arabia never had it so parched and sere. The planter in Tombstone territory (Kent Park) is drying fast. Lord knows that site can use all the color it can get.
If it were people who had walked down the street under the cover of darkness and destroyed the planters, we would call them vandals! Cretins! Philistines! Destroying just for the sake of. But this neglect is by the very town itself. How do you refer to people who would do this. Okay! Vandals! Cretins! Philistines works for me. Better to rip them out than leave them to perish from lack of tending. Or are we so short of help that there is no one to do the work?
We sold a railroad station for a toonie because a mayor and council didn’t want the expense of maintaining it. Guess it’s endemic of our councils. Just let it fall apart for lack of attention and replace it once it’s down. Reactive rather than proactive. Although when you start punting numbers like $32 million to replace properties owned by local councils, well that grabs my attention.
The comment by Councilor Gary Burry is a bit perplexing. “Where is the money coming from?” Every tax payer in Muskoka/Parry Sound, raise a fist. Who else foots the bills for the neglect and ineptitude?
Just my opinion.
The houses in Huntsville were built in the 70’s. How can they need replacing? If these were privately owned they would have been repaired and maintained over the years. Put in drainage and fix them. Majority of homes in Huntsville are 50 years older than these and still in livable condition. I have fixed three homes older than these own in town and they didn’t cost millions to repair to habitable homes. They don’t need to be mansions with luxury finishes.
Re-allocate 80% of profits from the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) which tourists pay on their lodging fees, away from additional tourism promotion (Muskoka is already the premiere Tourist destination in Canada) and use it to fund redevelopment of affordable housing. Being a tourist town is the #1 reason why housing is so pricey, so let those tourists (not residents) be a primary funder of the solution. MAT in Huntsville alone is worth millions annually.
(The reason I don’t suggest 100% of MAT is that programs like the STR licensing need to be self-funded, and MAT governance requires staffing too.)
*I do believe that the Provincial government has a stipulation that at least 40% of MAT needs to go to tourism promotion. The town could lobby for change on that stance through our MPP, as this proposal for MAT to offset rising housing costs from successful tourism is a political win-win. And even if that 40% can’t be changed, the Town does have control of what happens with the remaining 60%.
I agree with so many comments about how and why? Who is responsible for these buildings is a good question too- are they not getting paid to do so? Why would a building in need of repair be demolished!? Makes zero
Sense in a housing crisis. Unfortunately when it comes to affordable or geared towards income – a certain segment knows how to manipulate the system and still get cheap housing they don’t deserve (new vehicle and a travel trailer!?) Where’s the accountability and leadership? Ask the young people living there if they want to learn a trade and make good money doing so. There’s got to be a better system and solution for fellow citizens. We’re a great nation let’s get with it.
I kind of have to agree with what Norm Raynor says.
My house is a little over 150 years old and it has a few issues, but it is certainly not “uninhabitable” and as a matter of fact, I find it pretty comfortable.
I don’t spend excessively on maintenance but do keep ahead of most issues as time goes by.
I have to wonder how these units got to such a state as being uninhabitable with nobody in charge knowing the problem existed and was growing, years ago. Like I said, I agree with Norm’s comments.
I wonder if District is being efficient with our money. I wonder this in many ways and now I wonder this about housing too.
Looking at the flip side of the coin. Affordable housing. Taxpayer supported for low income families.
acceptance based on income? I guess the newer model car and travel trailer in the photo belong to a neighbor across the street?
I would be curious to know why these places are uninhabitable. If it’s asbestos remove it . If it’s black mold remove it . If repairs are needed for safety ,make repairs . This is not affordable housing ,it is Low Income Housing . If residents are complaining ,there are solutions to living there ,for many ,not all. Dare I say it ,get a job or get a better paying job . Obviously 50+ years ago this style of housing was thought to be best. Now apartment style (multiple stories ) are known to be more efficient so repair what you got and I’m sure it will not be millions and people stay where they are and build new build elsewhere . Cheaper and house more residents . Many people strive for better ,many don’t . I know it sounds harsh but there is not endless supply of tax dollars
I think Mr. Burry should try living in one of the uninhabitable units for awhile. I agree with the comment from Joanne Tanaka. The community needs to take responsibility for its vulnerable population and Huntsville is a wealthy community. Finally I believe whoever is responsible for maintaining these buildings needs to be made accountable and procedures need to be reviewed so it doesn’t happen again.
I’m amazed that these buildings had the ability to quietly work for some 50 years at reducing themselves to ruin. The owners never noticed the deterioration, the occupants must never have notified the owners, the whole performance seems to have been carried out on the sly. I find that hard to fathom. Somebody must have had a clue! I would imagine.
And now the subsequent group of lawmakers will want taxpayers to front the cash to allow them (another inept and unaware group of elected representatives) to fund another 34 million dollar investment that will again, reduce itself to waste. It’s appalling the way this District government can chew though cash. As if it wasn’t even their job to be wise or frugal.
But buildings are so devious and demanding. Anyone who owns one knows you got to watch them all the time.
Who is responsible for these units getting in such shape that you can’t live in them. Does no one from the district ever check the condition of them? If the tenants caused the damage they should be kicked out. If someone that works for he district is responsible for letting them get in in this shape they should be demoted or terminated. Houses built in the 1970’s are not old. What will be the point of building new units if no one looks after them?
Bad news about these now “uninhabitable or in need of significant repair ” affordable housing units belonging to the District. People need to live in decent appropriate shelter. And I am guessing there is a long list of people on a waiting list too. I do not think the District can simply say “oh well, we can’t afford to meet our responsibilities to our tenants.” I am guessing other municipalities are in the same boat and pursuing solutions other than tents or one way bus tickets to nowhere. Not a good look for “wealthy” Muskoka.