Corey Shepherd has had a full circle moment. Fifteen-plus years ago, he was a snowboard instructor on the slopes of Ontario’s Blue Mountains. Today, he’s spearheading the first new residential development to be built in Blue Mountain Village since the Westin Trillium House in 2005.
Shepherd is the president of Freed Developments, a Toronto-based development company whose portfolio includes everything from downtown luxury condos to some of Ontario’s most coveted resorts. In fact, Freed bought the land it’s developing in Blue Mountain in 2021 along with Deerhurst Resort and Horseshoe Resort. The company paid $330 million for the three properties.
Shepherd says he’s confident Freed’s experience managing its other resorts and hotels will help with the development of the Blue Mountain property. “We know what’s been tried and true and what works and what doesn’t work, especially when it comes to skiing and ski boots and dealing with harsh winters,” he says.
The current plan for Freed Blue Mountain, which was unveiled at the end of October, has been scaled back from its initial proposal. In April 2023, during a Blue Mountains council meeting, Freed presented a plan for two seven-storey residences with a total of 1,852 units, and 21,000 square metres of commercial space in Blue Mountain Village at the base of the ski hill.
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With feedback from council, Freed has unveiled new plans for one five-storey residence with 196 units and just over 1,600 square metres of commercial space.
Despite the building being residential, Freed is aiming to capture a resort vibe. The property will include a fitness centre, lockers for skis and snowboards, underground parking, and—what Shepherd considers one of the property’s crown jewels—an outdoor rooftop pool with a view of the hill. “It’s going to be quite a hot spot,” he says. The pool will only be open in the summer, but there is a heated hot tub on the rooftop for après ski during winter evenings.
Photo Courtesy of Freed Developments
The property’s commercial space will be on the ground floor. Freed has yet to confirm business occupants, but Shepherd says it will be a mix of restaurants with patio space, boutique stores, cafes, and possibly some local seasonal shops. “Really just a continuation of the retail that’s already existing in the village with maybe a slightly enhanced offering,” he says.
In terms of the building’s design, Freed is working with B + H Architects. Shepherd says the goal is to harmonize high-end luxury with the area’s natural environment, creating a rolling rooftop that mimics the Blue Mountain hills while using lots of wood materials. The property will feature interiors by DesignAgency with furnishings by RH. Residential units will range in size from 350 to 1,350 square feet.
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As of November 16, all 196 units are for sale. The units are split into two different ownership models. Approximately 20 per cent of owners will be able to occupy their units year-round. These tend to be more expensive suites located on the penthouse floor. The other 80 per cent of owners will be allowed to occupy their units for 120 days per year. It’s up to them which days they occupy the unit, whether it’s broken down into week-long holidays or different weekends. The rest of the year, the units will be placed in a rental pool operated similar to a hotel by the building’s management.
On the note of management, once the property is complete and all the units are sold, Freed plans to pass management off to Alterra Mountain Company, the Colorado-based company that owns and operates the Blue Mountain ski hill. Shepherd says Freed will retain several units for themselves as well as ownership of the ground floor commercial space, but Alterra will manage the rental and ownership of the units.
Nostalgia aside, Shepherd is excited to be revisiting Blue Mountain. He says the new build is going to be a great fit for the village—it’s why Freed chose to develop there.
“What Blue Mountain and Alterra have done is create a true four-seasons destination. You have year-round traffic and recreation opportunities—everything from the golf course, the ski hill, the biking trails, Georgian Bay, to a population in the Collingwood area that continues to increase,” he says. “Blue Mountain’s growing in popularity as both a tourist destination and a vibrant community, which makes it an ideal location for our development.”
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