A Toronto contractor has been secured to build up to 36 townhouses in Haileybury for the first phase of a major retirement community. Alterra Group of Companies has signed on with Thunder Bay developer Ray Williamson who has a vision to transform the town into a retirement community. The Town of Haileybury is also a partner in the plan to build year-round residences for retirees and empty-nesters on a property adjacent to the town's waterfront complex in 2003. The retirement development will be known as Bayport Village. At a March 26 public meeting, Alterra principals said they would build and sell the homes if a regional marketing plan results in 80 per cent of the homes being purchased. Further development of a larger waterfront multi-storey complex will be added in increments pending the amount of interest from potential buyers in the Tri-Towns and neighbouring communities as far away as North Bay. If the marketing results prove positive, the principles will begin a major marketing blitz next winter at retirement road shows, with the Toronto media and through the Internet.
