Roads: Ontario/GTA Highways Discussion

[lenaitch]

Ownership is indeed a bit of a burden. It feels like you need to maximize use of it and can't take other vacations. It makes little sense if you have to work in the city so you're slogging back and forth just for the weekends. For teachers it would be ideal, or those that can WFH at least part time. Perhaps the pandemic will change how acceptable this is. And Starlink satellite internet will be transformational for internet access and ability to WFH in remote areas.

A large number of owners are doing weekly rentals, which can be a serious money generator, but the problem is the 'high weeks' is when they normally want to use it themselves. An article I read recently said the rental market is pretty much already booked for 2021.

Connectivity is a big factor, but not the only one. Is the road plowed? Does the school bus come down the road? How reliable is the electricity? And on and on. A new neighbour decided to retire to their cottage in Haliburton - they lasted one winter. Looking out at a dark, bleak lake in February is different than July, and they had to schlepp half and hour to the nearest general store, which had minimal hours and stock in the off season; otherwise it was an hour to the nearest town. Some folks may relish it but others may find it a bit too much.

 

[PinkLucy]

Let’s get back to highways …

 

[anb]

I've driven the 404 many times and "cool" has never come to mind.

I really just get distracted by the view of Toronto to ever even pay attention to the 404. Even the DVP has better aesthetics and design despite the actual expressway being.. you know.

 

[Transportfan]

Connectivity is a big factor, but not the only one. Is the road plowed? Does the school bus come down the road? How reliable is the electricity? And on and on. A new neighbour decided to retire to their cottage in Haliburton - they lasted one winter. Looking out at a dark, bleak lake in February is different than July, and they had to schlepp half and hour to the nearest general store, which had minimal hours and stock in the off season; otherwise it was an hour to the nearest town. Some folks may relish it but others may find it a bit too much.

If you have a cottage in Wasaga Beach, retiring there is easy as the cottages are actually in town. You can walk to the grocery store and restaurants from some of them and there's even transit.

 

[lenaitch]

If you have a cottage in Wasaga Beach, retiring there is easy as the cottages are actually in town. You can walk to the grocery store and restaurants from some of them and there's even transit.

Yes, Wasaga is one of the rare few, along with perhaps Grand Bend and perhaps some along Erie although I'm not familiar with them. Walkability to grocery, etc. largely depends on where you live since the 'retail centres' are grouped around River Rd. W/Main St. in the east and River Rd. W and 45th St. (CR 7) in the west.

 

[ShonTron]

Yes, Wasaga is one of the rare few, along with perhaps Grand Bend and perhaps some along Erie although I'm not familiar with them. Walkability to grocery, etc. largely depends on where you live since the 'retail centres' are grouped around River Rd. W/Main St. in the east and River Rd. W and 45th St. (CR 7) in the west.

Port Elgin, Southampton, Sauble Beach, Port Stanley, all have older cottage-style neighbourhoods, in walking distance to basic shopping as well as lakeside parks and beaches. Neither have transit (unlike Wasaga Beach), though. I wouldn't count Port Dover, as its downtown has become very touristy, with the only grocery store (No Frills) way out on the edge of town.

 

[innsertnamehere]

A lot of cottagers spend summers at the cottage and winters in Florida at their affordably purchased condo or home in Orlando or somewhere, which they purchased after selling their old primary dwelling in Canada. And they drive between the two each year on the Ontario Freeway network

That only works for so many years though. Eventually, usually by your late 70's or early 80's, it becomes too much.

 

[terag51]

Highway 401 Mississauga Cameras West of Hwy 410 Added On https://511on.ca/

 

[Allandale25]

Highway 7 land purchase a ‘positive thing’ in moving planned expansion forward: Galloway

Long standing provincial project takes small steps toward next phase, acquiring land for infrastructure needs

www.kitchenertoday.com

I can't remember if there's a separate thread for this project so posting it here.