A couple of huge development projects in Sudbury remain on hold and unfinished.
Some developers say they can't get through the red tape at city hall, but now one of the mayoral candidates says a new position needs to be created to avoid that problem.
Brian Bigger wants to make it easier to build.
"This is about eliminating the red tape." said Bigger.
And to make Sudbury more attractive for developers.
"They want to invest, and time is money for them. And there are many eager investors right now as we speak, but there could be much more." said Bigger.
The incumbent mayor thinks he has a plan, if he gets a second term.
He would hire a facilitator, appointed by council, to solve disputes between the city and private developers when the two sides hit a road block.
The cost would be split between the city and the developer, and the facilitator would make the final decision.
John Cerilli is a property developer.
"In the past, it's been a bit rough to get projects on the go, but I think the promise he made here today, I think that life will be easier to develop in Sudbury." said Cerilli.
And it could hold the key to finally getting some of the larger projects moving.
But while some developers are on board, others say the city should be doing more to avoid those disputes in the first place, and both staff and council should be working towards a more building-friendly city.
Greg Oldenburg has been trying to get his Brewer Lofts development project off the ground for years.
"Bureaucratic concerns slow things down, momentum is lost, confidence is lost." said Oldenburg.
His development is at a standstill and he says that while he has done his part, city staff hasn’t met him halfway.
And he says that's causing investors like him, from outside the city, to retreat and just sit on their properties.
"They would rather not do anything, than spend money and not have any result." said Oldenburg.
Meanwhile, the number of old buildings around the city, sitting vacant and waiting for development is growing
