A New Foundation for a More
Sustainable Tomorrow


What does future quality of life look like for Port Perry? And how do we ensure that it is the right kind of growth for our community and region? Growth that is sustainable and ecologically-friendly, with leading edge environmental design and technology. Growth that is supportive for our aging population; that helps keep our seniors healthy and aging in place. Growth that creates ownership opportunities for the next generation and is an economic driver for the future of Port Perry?

That is the kind of growth that can help build a sustainable foundation for tomorrow. And that is exactly what the EQUUS Project is designed to bring to Port Perry.


EQUUS offers:

  • Housing opportunities that are unavailable today.
  • Multi-unit housing for downsizing, all price ranges.
  • Up-scale waterfront condos and rentals for retiring senior executives and downsizing wealthy families leaving large homes.
  • Ownership and rental opportunities for young professionals.
  • World-leading environmental design that enhances the lake and wetlands.
  • New concepts in bird and wildlife sanctuary.
  • A community connected to waterfront recreation, nature trails, fishing and boating.
  • Buildings and amenities that reduce carbon footprints and remediate climate impact.
  • Landscape, building, and environmental designs that enhance mobility for everyone.
  • New sewage water treatment and water recycling/reuse features; leading new infrastructure with zero cost to the Township, offering significantly superior environmental results.
  • Additional sewage treatment capacity to give neighbouring Castle Harbour residents the opportunity to hook-up to eliminate use of their septic systems.
  • Changing rainfall and stormwater runoff away from the lake, to be naturally bio-filtered through adjacent wetlands.
  • New trail connections designed to allow public access.
  • Projected economic impact in excess of $95 million.
  • New tax revenue to support infrastructure and public services.


The Urgent Need
For New Housing


Township of Scugog has endorsed a growth strategy prioritizing urban intensification, sustainability, and the creation of more housing options. Today, in Port Perry, detached dwellings represent 80 percent of the housing mix, while the provincial average is just 54 percent. Clearly, Port Perry needs more multi-unit housing. And the people of Port Perry need more options.


Scugog Township has a goal of residential intensification in the urban settlement area. The EQUUS site is more than 87 acres, located less that 2.1 km from Port Perry’s Queen and Water Streets (as the duck flies). Intensification is a profound opportunity in any community. The challenge is to achieve as many social and practical benefits as possible, enhancing the old, maximizing the potential of the new and meeting tomorrow’s needs today.

Building For The Future, Not Yesterday, is AVENU’s goal.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW TOWNSHIP OF SCUGOG WEBSITE ON EQUUS


The Old Approved Plan is a
Missed Opportunity


The approved Plan of Subdivision was based on a planning concept proposed in 2004. This vision represents an outmoded way of thinking.

The old approved plan allows 20 large estate homes of 12,000 – 15,000 sq. ft. with 4 – 5 car garages. In other words, McMansions. Every home is built with a septic system. Current permissions under local planning bylaws allow each home to be constructed with a separate basement apartment and a stand-alone garden suite. This means the approved plan allows up to 60 individual residences. All of them are on septic systems, all within 100 metres of Lake Scugog or wetlands and Beaver Meadow Creek. It’s an environmentally insensitive concept that ignores modern sustainability and technology requirements for reducing impact on climate change.

Provincial and Township of Scugog planning priorities have evolved. Durham Regional growth plan demands a new strategy: contemporary planning with best practices that achieve social benefits, foster better living, reduce climate impact, save scarce resources, and enhance the natural world.

Approved 2004 Plan

20 years ago, this was the draft plan of subdivision.

25

Hectares
of Land

60

Units of Total Residences
Service on Septic Systems


The New
Vision


Site Composition


Credit: Geowarehouse


The Concept In-The-Making



In 2022, AVENU started rethinking the approved Plan of Subdivision for 20 large estate homes on Castle Harbour Drive south side. The need in Port Perry is for smaller, more affordable and more accessible homes. There is also a need for upscale apartments/ condos on the lake. All of this rethinking led to the vision of an integrated community providing housing for young families, professionals and down-sizing aging adults .

As development ideas progressed, the AVENU Team focused on sustainability and new ideas for aging-in-place, healthcare, purpose-designed buildings for remote-working young people and enhanced mobility for everyone, in various economic circumstances, at every age.

The plan shown here is AVENU’S first concept community laid over top of the Approved Plan of Subdivision. The final concept for EQUUS will be developed once zoning is confirmed. The site plan will be adjusted. Refinements will be made taking into account the ideal location of roads, the boundaries of wetlands and the desired locations of parks, trails, waterfront recreation elements and other amenities. The original concept in-the-making, shown here, respected the identified areas of buildable land and took into account of building areas previously approved by KRCA, Township of Scugog and Durham Region.

The EQUUS Project is designed to be a world-leading model of sustainability and intergenerational living. With the support and inspiration of global leaders, the vision proposed here aims to lead transformational thinking in future housing and community living.


  • An intergenerational range of housing types and ownerships
  • Strong neighbourhoods with enhanced mobility, walkability and sustainability
  • Integration with nature
  • Passive and active recreation: walking trails, parks, waterfront, public beach, wetland sanctuaries, meditation sites


  • Connected to Port Perry’s Visionary Waterfront through the integration of housing types and ownerships throughout the community
  • Achievable housing options within Port Perry
  • Accommodating people of all ages and abilities
  • PACE-style healthcare to support aging-in-place


  • Opportunities for first-time home ownership
  • Advanced technologies and facilities for remote working professionals
  • New transit options for car-less living
  • Meaningful partnerships to achieve a complete community

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