A Courtice landmark was reduced to rubble as demolition work began on the former Pine Ridge Motel and Scoops Ice Cream Shop on Highway 2 to make way for a six-story condominium building.
“That makes me want to cry. I’ve been here since 2019,” said former resident Aurlee Milbury, who saw the demolition on Monday, April 18. “I wish people knew what an amazing motel it is. Some people were good. people weren’t. We had the good with the bad… It’s sad. It’s hard for me because I met all these amazing people.”
Milbury, looking for a new pet-friendly home, moved into the Pine Ridge Motel more than two years ago. She was hired as a motel cleaner. New owners working on the condo development have given Milbury housing and a job cleaning her Courtice office and Toronto headquarters.
“If it wasn’t for the manager who was here, I wouldn’t know where I would be today; and the owner of the building now, I wouldn’t know where I would be today either because they are helping me a lot. They are amazing people,” Milbury said.
Monde Development Group will build a modern, six-story residential building at 1607 Hwy. 2 in Courtice, with 89 condominium units and 95 underground parking spaces. Building plans include a rooftop patio, guest suites, a lobby lounge, fitness center, ballroom, co-working space, and a park in the rear of the building.
“We are going to change the face of Courtice. We would like to thank the (City) of Clarington for going above and beyond. Helping us in the process. We got our permit in record time,” said Majid Hamid, CEO of Monde Development Group. “This is something new. We will bring downtown Toronto to Courtice.”
Highway 2 land was zoned for residential and/or mixed-use buildings between four and six stories as of June 2018 as part of the Courtice Main Street Secondary Plan – rezoning was incorporated to create a downtown Courtice vibrant by encouraging gradual redevelopment along the main street that includes a mix of housing, retail and services.
“This will set the stage for newcomers, new developers… We want to be pioneers and we will take the first step,” Hamid said.
Listed condos sold out quickly. Monde has reserved one unit, the Bala unit, and the entire sale of that unit will go to charity, Hamid explained. He added that the company’s future plans in Clarington could include affordable housing and senior care facilities.
Developers have been working for years to bring their condo plans to life. Demolition is the first important step in finally beginning the construction of the condominium building. Once the debris is removed, excavation of the basement will begin.
“It’s a very important construction milestone for us, the demolition, because every big project starts here,” said Rishabh Sharma, planning manager at Monde. “In 18 to 20 months, you’ll have this one-of-a-kind luxury Courtice condo.”
As the demolition date neared, developers said many local residents stopped by to remember the legendary Scoops ice cream parlor. Milbury also remembers coming to Scoops for ice cream as a child with her parents.
“We always came here on Sundays and got ice cream at Scoops. It was the best ice cream,” Milbury said.
The owners arranged to deliver the Scoops and Pine Ridge Motel signs to an interested Courtice resident. However, on the morning of the demolition, they found that the old Scoops sign had been stolen from the wall of the building.
“Many memories surround this place. We are trying to be very respectful of the memories,” Sharma said.
STORY BEHIND THE STORY: This Week she was invited to the start of demolition at the old Pine Ridge Motel to make way for a new condominium building on Highway 2 in Courtice.
Reference-www.thestar.com