Wasaga Beach Signs Letter of Intent with Award-Winning Sunray Hotel Group

Wasaga Beach Signs Letter of Intent with Award-Winning Sunray Hotel Group, Launches new RFP for Beachfront Redevelopment

As the Town moves forward with Sunray Group, it confirms it is parting ways amicably with FRAM and launching a new RFP for the design and construction of the mixed-use, commercial and residential portion of Town’s transformational beachfront redevelopment project

“Council is thrilled to take this next step forward with Sunray Group – having an award-winning hotelier at the table as we reimagine and redevelop our beachfront is an incredible win for our community. Although we will not move forward with FRAM, we part ways amicably. Council is confident in the Town’s vision for our beachfront and downtown, and in our decision to advocate firmly for a fair deal on behalf of our full-time residents and for the future of our community. We are also confident in our decision to reduce the project scope, to attract a wider pool of qualified developers as we continue to move forward quickly – a new RFP has been posted today, and we will get shovels in the ground on Beach Drive in the spring, as planned.”

– Mayor Brian Smith

WASAGA BEACH – Today the Town of Wasaga Beach announced it has signed a Letter of Intent with the award-winning Sunray Hotel Group. The agreement represents the next step forward as the Town continues working with Sunray to bring a premium hotel to Wasaga’s iconic beachfront.

The Town has also provided an update on the status of negotiations with FRAM Building Group. It confirmed that as it moves forward with Sunray Group, it is parting ways, amicably, with FRAM and launching a new RFP for the design and construction of the mixed-use, commercial and residential portion of the Town’s transformational beachfront redevelopment project.

The RFP is posted on the Town’s website and it will remain open for 28 days: wasagabeach.com/imagine. It features a new, reduced project scope covering the Town-owned parcels of land between Mosley Street and Beach Drive and 1^st Street and 3^rd Street.

While the beachfront redevelopment project focuses on the beachfront commercial area around Beach Drive and Beach Area 1, the economic spinoffs will benefit the entire community. It will continue to be guided by public input received during the in-depth, collaborative design meetings held by the Town and FRAM over the past year, and by the Town’s existing, approved Downtown Development Master Plan.

Next steps

• Next steps include the Town entering into an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with Sunray Group of Hotels, followed by final design work.
• The new RFP for the redesign and redevelopment of the Town’s downtown commercial area is live now – it will remain open for 28 days and staff will bring the results of this process to Council for approval in winter 2024.
• Construction activity on Beach Drive is expected to begin in spring 2025, as planned.

Questions?

Listen to the announcement by Mayor Brian Smith.

Watch the staff update and hear comments by Mayor Smith and members of Council.

Download the RFP.