Boblo Island reverting back to 'Bois Blanc,' ready for hundreds of new homes
An island in Amherstburg, Ont. steeped in history is open for business.
Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new development.
Amico Group originally bought the land in the mid 2000s and began studying the environment and species at risk. Their ultimate goal was to continue developing the land for residential use, while respecting the existing environment.
Today, there are about 150 homes on the island. After a year-and-a-half of land servicing and road construction on the south end, Boblo is ready for more.
“From what we're seeing today, we can't wait to see some houses being built,” says Cindy Prince, the VP of development at Amico Properties.
The developer has prepared an additional 220 lots on the south end bringing the total units on the island community to 370, with about 50 per cent of the island remaining in its natural state.
“That's the number that works for the ferry, it works for the environment. It works for the residents of the island, it's a large enough community to be sustainable,” adds Prince. “We're strong believers that people can live in harmony with the environment, if the development is done properly.”
Relics from its past, including the old dance hall, the recently restored Block House and the theatre currently sit dormant and shuttered.
But Amico is keen to preserve the last vestiges of the amusement park for adaptive-reuse.
“When this part of the project is going and doing well, then we'll turn our mind to it,” says Prince. “We've got some real gems here in terms of heritage buildings. What's the best way to move forward with those?”
The 272 acre island still features a white sand beach and kilometres of trails.
The developer is also looking to add a new restaurant and continue its year-round ferry service for both residents and visitors, possibly increasing the frequency of ferry trips as the density on the island increases.
“We're keeping the operation of the Amherstburg Ferry Company under the control of Amico at this time until we find a suitable alternative, someone that's reliable and put safety first,” Prince says.
As for the name “Boblo Island,” the developer is taking it back to its roots.
Original French Settlers named it Bois Blanc for its array of white birch trees along the southern spit, and Amico would like to make the old, new again.
“There are so many happy memories of Boblo so we're not going to be upset with anybody for calling it Boblo,” says Prince. “But I think ‘Bois Blanc’ has a certain cachet and it's our marketing desire to go with Bois Blanc.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
developing Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
Biden OKs US$60M in aid after Baltimore bridge collapse as governor warns of 'very long road ahead'
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore warned Thursday of a 'very long road ahead' to recover from the loss of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge as the Biden administration approved US$60 million in immediate federal aid after the deadly collapse.