Residents in East Gwillimbury say the town is moving too slowly to protect a historically significant property in Holland Landing, where a controversial townhouse development has been proposed.
Andrew Lenkov and Geoff Brown are urging council to formally request that 31 Sand Road be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, arguing the site holds substantial Indigenous and early colonial significance. They say a council motion is needed to give the request enough political weight to prompt provincial action, including support from York–Simcoe MPP and cabinet minister Caroline Mulroney.
Their push comes after council rejected the latest proposal from Pentacore Development, which sought approval for 161 townhouses and 10 ground-level units on the property.
Lenkov and Brown have spent months conducting research and attending council meetings to highlight the heritage importance of the site, pointing to records dating back to a 1793 meeting between Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe and First Nations leaders. They also note that a log cabin from the 1820s or 1830s still stands on the land, though several other buildings were demolished in September—including one Lenkov says had historical value.
Town officials say they are waiting for additional studies and information before taking further action on potential heritage designation. Residents, however, argue that any delay increases the risk of losing irreplaceable cultural history.
