Saugeen Shores officials have announced that the town is taking steps after the company overseeing the Cedar Crescent Village project at Port Elgin Beach missed an important deadline.
In a statement released on Monday, Saugeen Shores mentioned that it has been working with 2706913 Ontario Inc., led by local businessman Pier Donnini, to support progress on the construction of Cedar Crescent Village (CCV).
The town and 2706913 Ontario Inc. signed a 50-year lease for the waterfront property back in 2019.
After issuing building permits in 2023, the town extended critical project deadlines outlined in a revised agreement on February 24, 2025, for another ten months. As per the town’s CCV project website, completion of the North Building for what was meant to be a “premier year-round destination at Port Elgin Beach” was anticipated by February 2, 2026.
The overall plan included a restaurant and viewing deck, a market hall, game space, and an ice cream shop-all situated on prime waterfront land near Port Elgin’s main beach-with an expected completion date by year-end.
According to town officials, very little substantial work has been done at the site so far.
“Despite these efforts, the project did not advance as required by the relevant contractual documents and did not achieve the required February 2, 2026 construction milestone,” said the town in its statement.
A map shows where the proposed Cedar Crescent Village would be built. (File photo) /jpg, PO, apsmc
“Consequently, the town is now taking steps to assert its rights under the Lease and Site Works & Servicing Agreement which includes the town’s right to terminate the lease.”
Saugeen Shores acknowledged that residents have been keenly interested in what’s happening with both Port Elgin waterfront and CCV project. However, since “the next steps involve court intervention,” they mentioned that there are limits to what can be shared at this time.
A closed session was held by town officials in late February to discuss matters related to Cedar Crescent Project.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau stated after this meeting that council reviewed minutes from prior private meetings and “discussed matters and provided direction relative to advice subject to solicitor/client privilege from the town solicitor regarding the Feb. 26 CCV legal update.”
A construction fence along with piles of sand remain as visible signs of development at this waterfront location over six years after partnering with local business people for recreational development plans.
Two representatives from a group called Port Elgin Beach Preservers expressed their disappointment about this stalled multi-million-dollar venture just before a council meeting on July 7, 2025.
“Two weeks from today marks six years since we first presented our commercial project for Port Elgin Beach,” said Patricia Corrigan-Frank, founder of Port Elgin Beach Preservers. “This eyesore has lingered long enough. The fence and dirt piles should be removed so we can restore public access until construction begins.”
In 2019 Saugeen Shores entered into a long-term lease agreement with 2706913 Ontario Inc. for developing waterfront property that previously hosted mini train rides and summer markets.
The initial building permits were granted early in 2023. Deadlines set within those two-year permits were later extended in February of 2025 with completion now projected for September 14, 2026.
At that point Libro Credit Union confirmed its role as both commercial lender and leasehold mortgagee for Cedar Crescent Village Development.
Donnini addressed council on February 24, 2025 mentioning delays caused by COVID-19 pandemic challenges along with directives requiring moving development further back from beachfront areas. He noted that investors behind his numbered company have contributed $4 million toward this initiative while obtaining a $10 million loan through Libro Credit Union.
Additions controversies arose when residents learned about plans for an ice cream shop which was expected to be operated as a Dairy Queen franchise owned by developers themselves.
– with files from Frances Learment
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