Prime-time parking fees scheduled for Main St. Grand Bend

This Grand Bend aerial shot from the Lake looking East shows the new Beach, Main Street ( which is undergoing a major upgrade to be ready for this Spring ) and the Harbour taken May 2009

Here's a recent article by  DEBORA VAN BRENK, THE LONDON FREE PRESS
3rd February 2010.
Fun won't be free for visitors to Grand Bend's Main St. when beach season begins in May -- paid, prime-time parking is coming to the strip.
While some merchants fear it will harm business, metered parking is one way to make sure Main St. shopping traffic circulates regularly, said Lambton Shores Mayor Gord Minielly.
"The reality is that people were parking their cars at 9 in the morning and returning (to leave town) at 5 in the afternoon," Minielly said.
Paid parking, he said, "is simply a matter of recycling people through" during the busiest times of the day.
Grand Bend is a hot destination for beach- and party-goers during summer months and it's not unusual some weekends to see solid lines of drivers cruising the strip, looking for free places to park.
The new fees for Main St. -- $2 an hour to a maximum of two hours -- apply only during business hours during the summer, Minielly noted.
"Logically, it should benefit businesses on Main St.," he said.
Eight solar-powered pay kiosks will collectively manage parking for 85 parking spaces on the street -- which is newly redesigned with sweeping curves, wider sidewalks, better lighting and pedestrian crossings. With recirculation of visitors, those 85 spots can become the equivalent of 300, town staff say.
Those who don't feed the meter or who wear out their welcome beyond the two-hour limit face a $30 fine.
Paid parking, by the day or the hour, will still be available at the beach and free municipal parking is available a few blocks away.
Debora Van Brenk is a Free Press reporter.

Winter in the Bend

Changes on Main Street coming this Spring......

Grand Bend Hardware becomes the return of "Georges."

The former Bookstore beside JD's will be a Pet Food Store.

A bigger and better Kazwear.





Two Mayoral Candidates declared so far for Lambton Shores..Mark Simpson currently Ward 3 Alderman and Bill Weber currently Ward 2 Alderman
The two councillors have filed their intentions for the top spot in the 2010 municipal election.


Weber was on Stephen council 12 years- three years as deputy reeve and three years as reeve and it will be 10 years with Lambton Shores.
Simpson is the currently Ward 3 councillor, first elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2006.

Photo taken by Dave Bannister Jan 2010 looking toward the Lake past the Grand Bend Yacht Club Building

Happy New Year

Looks like 2010 will be great in this area. A brand new Main Street along with several new businesses. More details to follow.

Merry Christmas from the Bend

Merry Christmas and all the Best of the Season. Thank you for your support and business in 2009 and I wish you a Prosperous and Happy 2010

Larry

The dreaded HST - the combined federal and provincial, 13% sales tax thats set to come into effect July 1, 2010 continues moving it's way through the Ontario legislature and the Feds including Ignatieff's Liberals passed the necessary federal legislation to allow the provinces of BC and Ontario to procede to implement it. Dalton McGuinty seems bound and determined not to listen to the opposition to the tax, meaning the citizens of Ontario, insisting its good for the economy. Exactly .....tax the already overtaxed and overburdened consumer where it really hurts on their day to day living expenses. It's not a done deal yet so write and or e-mail your MPP telling them NO to the HST.

Meanwhile in Grand Bend they have finished rebuilding and repaving Main St. and are vigilantly working on the Sidewalks and Intersections it looks like they will have no problem in getting finished for the spring and summer season. It's looking good out there

_________________________________________________________

Mississauga, ON (December 3, 2009) -- In the midst of one of the most tumultuous economic periods in recent history, residential real estate has proven to be a safe harbour, with sales and average prices expected to post gains in most major Canadian cities in 2009, according to a report released today by RE/MAX.

for more click on the link below

                      http://www.remax-oa.com/MediaNewsroom/Pages/ReadMore.aspx?ItemID=54

HST will increase the costs of homeownership, say local REALTORS

The Government of Ontario formally launched its latest assault on homeowners, purchasers and sellers with the introduction of Bill 218, the Ontario Tax Plan for More Jobs and Growth Act, 2009.

Local REALTORS say the Government of Ontario's plan to introduce a HST on July 1, 2010 will significantly increase the cost of homeownership by increasing taxes on buyers, seller and owners.

Homebuyers and sellers will pay 8 per cent more on legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees, and moving costs, adding about $1,500 in new taxes to the average residential real estate transaction in Ontario.
For existing homeowners, the HST will also add hundreds of dollars in additional tax on utility bills, such as gas, electricity and home heating fuel, on home renovation labour, the cost of lawn upkeep or landscaping and the cost of snow removal.
No matter how you sell it, the HST is a big tax increase for local home buyers, sellers and owners, said Joe Hough, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS. We need government to reduce taxes and help families achieve their dreams of homeownership.
The HST combines the PST and GST into one value added tax, meaning that the 8 per cent PST will be applied to list of goods and services that were previously exempt.

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) estimates that the new tax will add $1,449 in new taxes to an average resale home costing $302,354. OREA also estimates that the HST will add an estimated $262 million in new taxes annually to residential resale real estate transactions.

Homeowners will also have to pay an additional 8 per cent on many services required to maintain their homes. These services were previously exempt from PST and include utilities, home renovation labour, landscaping, snow removal and many others. OREA estimates HST on these services will add $480 in annual tax to the homeowner (based on a family that budgets $500 per month for such costs).

London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS        LSTAR

342 Commissioners Rd. W., London, Ontario N6J 1Y3

Phone: 519.641.1400 or 519.641.1434 x244

Fax: 519.641.4613

www.lstar.ca

Downtown Grand Bend Changes

Construction is well underway on the upgrade and rebuild of Main Street

This is a new two storey building replacing Kazwear near the Beach

Looking West  toward the Lake