Under pressure: Georgina resident pushes for Jackson's Point protection before development, Bill 23 take hold

Historical designation provides ‘sober second thought’ for Jackson’s Point, Bonnie Park, Malone Wharf

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 22, 2023
Amanda Persico

Jackson’s Point is where the land meets the lake, all connected by rail both on land and in the water.

The heritage-rich parcel of land stretches from Lake Drive East into Lake Simcoe at Malone Wharf and encompasses both Bonnie and Lorne parks.

“We always took it for granted. It was just here,” said Paul Brady, a Jackson’s Point resident.

This history-dense parcel of land was almost lost in a land-swap deal back in 2017 that would have seen a condo development near the shores of the Lake.

The fear of losing parkland pushed Brady to embark on a winding research trail, uncovering the area’s past and park’s role in the area’s history.

“We almost lost it. That’s when I dug in and said, ‘We’ve got to find out more about this place,’” said the current Georgina Historical Society president.

During the mid-1800s, steam ships docked in Jackson’s Point Harbour -- one of the only safe harbours on the lake. Soon, a rail line was built to transport lumber shipped into Jackson’s Point. Decades the rail line was used to transport Lake Simcoe ice.

Then in the early 1900s, Jackson’s Point became a tourist destination with introduction of the radial train to the now Bonnie Park.

Malone Wharf is home to a marine railway, or a dry dock, that used to carry steamboats out of the water for repair or storage. The marine railway is still visibly intact under the water on the lake bed.

Brady discovered a Crown Grant dating back to the 1930s that specifies the park is to be a public space maintained by the municipality.

The fight to protect the area has resurged again in the face of another condo development.

Last year, Georgina council received an official plan amendment application form to build a 4-storey, 62-unit condo building on the Ramada Jackson’s Point hotel property, which abuts Bonnie and Lorne parks.

More recently, there’s been development activity -- removing hedges, building a platform -- on the Ramada property, under new ownership. In July, the town issued a stop work order to the property owner.

“We don’t know the value until its gone,” said Brady, who is still pushing for heritage protection for the area.

Adding a historical designation adds another layer of protection.

“This creates a sober second thought -- a pause -- for whatever kind of development,” he said.

Bonnie Park, along with what remains of the former Bonnie Boats Marina property, were listed on the town’s heritage registry in 2017 and are among the more than 130 properties listed.

Listed properties have cultural or historical value while designated properties have an added layer of protection. A little more than 10 per cent of the town’s listed properties are designated.

Council approved the intent to designate Bonnie Park in 2021 and staff are in the process of finalizing the designation process, said Denis Beaulieu, the town’s development services director.

The town is also working toward heritage designation for marine railway at the wharf as well, Beaulieu added.

Brady wants to see the lakefront parcel, including Bonnie and Lorne Parks and the marine railway at the wharf, designated under the province’s heritage registry as well.

Time adds another layer of pressure to protect the heritage of Jackson’s Point.

The province’s More Homes Built Faster Act Bill 23, limits how a municipality can identify and designate heritage properties.

Bill 23 allows for a property to be delisted and removed from the town’s heritage register if there is no formal intent to designate a property within two years.

That means, the town has until November 2024 to start the designation process on any of its listed heritage properties.

And once a property is delisted from the heritage register, it cannot be re-listed for another five years.

“It’s a timing thing,” Brady said. “We’ve got to get these things designated sooner rather than later. We’re just on the edge.”