Grimsby waterfront condo expected to be completed this fall

GRIMSBY — The first waterfront condo proposed for Grimsby’s east end was supposed to be finished in May, but due to construction delays, will be done in September.

LJM developments president Liaquat Mian says the first phase of the three-part project was supposed to be finished in May, but last year, the drywalling crew went on strike, and construction teams also had to deal with inclement weather.

“The environment by the lake is very challenging,” said Mian.

Given the scale and ambition of the first portion, the developer explained that four months is not a significant setback.

“Right now, we are installing kitchens in the lower floors,” he said. The first phase of the development is one of the largest and most complicated, he says, including all of the underground parking for both Phase 1 and two, as well as the amenities building.

“A lot of facilities are being done in Phase 1,” he said. The lower portion of the building will have a dental office, an Italian restaurant, a convenience store, and a gym.

“The roof garden has to be done,” he said, which is to be built on top of the amenities building, which is expected to be entirely finished by the end of October.

The final six floors of the second phase are currently being challenged in an OMB appeal, but Mian says the rest of the build is unencumbered by the hearing.

That portion is 85 per cent sold and will be finished next year.

The OMB hearing date is set for Oct. 27.

Mian could not confirm if condos in the six floors that are being appealed will be sold before the hearing.

“The marketing people have plans for it,” he said.

Shaheryar Mian, Liaquat’s son, says that the OMB hearing will not affect the sale of the condos from a marketing perspective.

He says they are aiming to sell the top six floors in an exclusive VIP event during a launch this fall.

He says that he could not comment on whether they would rebate clients their deposits in the event that the OMB rules against them, but did say that he believes that would be an unlikely scenario.

“The other side, they don’t really have a case,” he said.

Phase 3 is set to be started next year. LJM has developments in Hamilton, Burlington, and Stoney Creek, but Mian says they are focusing on Grimsby and expanding into Niagara.

“From here, we’ll move toward Lincoln, toward Niagara,” he said, adding he plans to build his private residence on the waterfront in between Grimsby and Lincoln.