What many residents long feared became reality today as crews began clearing trees from part of the Millcroft Golf Club to make way for a new residential development — a moment that has left some in the community devastated.
The project, approved last year by the Ontario Land Tribunal despite fierce local opposition, will see 90 townhomes and a small apartment building built on a portion of the golf course in Burlington’s Millcroft neighbourhood.
“This was such a nice green area and now it looks like a wasteland,” said Mary Jovanovich, visibly emotional after watching online footage of trees being felled. “I know there’s pressure to build more homes, but at what cost?”
For years, Millcroft residents, environmental advocates, and city officials have fought to preserve the 18-hole golf course — arguing it offered more than just a place to play golf. To many, it was a cherished green space that supported local wildlife and contributed to the community’s character.
Despite that opposition, Argo Development Corporation, the Burlington-based firm behind the project, pressed forward. After legal battles and hearings, the Ontario Land Tribunal ruled in Argo’s favour in 2024, determining the site was appropriate for housing development.
The decision came even after both the City of Burlington and Halton Region opposed the project, citing environmental concerns, overdevelopment, and the potential impact on community wellbeing. A last-ditch appeal to Premier Doug Ford to intervene went unanswered.
Argo has maintained that the project will help address the region’s housing shortage while preserving part of the golf course. Their plan retains a reconfigured nine-hole layout, which they say better suits modern preferences for shorter rounds of play.
Still, the start of tree clearing has struck a deep nerve with residents.
“It’s over,” said John Blakely, who lives nearby and walks his dog along the course daily. “People around here fought so hard, but this is happening — and now, nothing can stop it.”
Protests against the development continued until just days ago. But as the bulldozers rolled in, frustration turned to heartbreak for those who had hoped to protect the natural space.
Online reaction was swift, with photos and videos circulating widely and prompting renewed concern about urban sprawl and the loss of green spaces in Ontario’s fast-growing cities.
As of today, the debate may be over — but the emotional toll on the community remains.