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'A project like this can bring that area alive again'

Mayor says he was hearing 'very positive reviews' at the meeting regarding proposal for Barrie Central site

A neighbourhood meeting regarding a major downtown development proposal at the former Barrie Central Collegiate site was a positive one and will now see the developers continue on with the next step of their proposal.

Tuesday night’s meeting in the Barrie City Hall Rotunda saw approximately 50 people view picture boards with artist's renderings, slides and even a model replica of the proposed development, which includes three apartment buildings containing total of 600 units at Dunlop and Bradford streets.

Residents were able to walk around and view the designs and talk to one of the HIP Development representatives who were on hand to listen and answer questions.

HIP president Scott Higgins spoke to the crowd before telling BarrieToday that the site proposal has been met with good spirits.

“So far, everyone has been great with the idea of this development, but admittedly we are very early in the process,” said Higgins. “We’ve talked to a bit of (city) staff, local politicians and some neighbours but not a wide community event yet, but that’s what this meeting tonight was for.

"Here tonight, so far, everyone seems to be positive and while we haven’t had a lot of negative feedback yet, I’m sure we will and that’s normal," he added. "Negative feedback can be good, because it helps us see what the community cares about and allows us to improve what we can.”

The development would see three buildings, including one that is 10 storeys and two 20-storey structures, on the grounds of the old Barrie Central, Red Storey Field and the Prince of Wales school.

Higgins said that they would have loved to keep the Prince of Wales school, but a lot of water damage and other damage had occurred and it was not a possibility.

But they do have an interesting way to retain some history.

“We do want to preserve the idea of the original schoolhouse in Barrie,” said Higgins. “We can keep the front of the school and make it the entrance to a public parkette with a fun twist. You would walk into the front door of the school and into a landscaped classroom, with a really neat public art feel of a school teacher writing on what used to be a blackboard, desks for people to sit in, like you would a park bench.

"We have heard what that site has meant to so many people and this is one way to keep a part of the local history intact," he added. 

The YMCA has also secured space at the site, too, and are now included in the development plans to be the new location of the activity centre along with other community organizations.

Six-hundred new apartment units would bring approximately 900 people close to the downtown core, which is music to the ears of Coun. Keenan Aylwin, whose ward includes the downtown.

“It is exciting to see new development in the downtown area. We need more people in the streets, we need safer streets and more shoppers for the small businesses,” said Aylwin. “I did attend Barrie Central and Prince of Wales, so as sad as I was to see them both close down, it has been equally sad to see them just a pile of rocks for so long.

"A project like this can bring that area alive again," the councillor added. 

With Barrie’s rental prices one of the highest in the country and the lack of places to live being a hot topic every day, the importance of this project is not lost on Aylwin.

“It is the gateway to our downtown from the highway and we also know that we have challenges in our downtown to which this development may be able to help with,” he said.

Mayor Jeff Lehman stood by the model replica the majority of the meeting, listening to concerns and questions from residents.

“It's been very interesting, in that I’m hearing very positive reviews and even the concerns have been very cordial and more just wanting more information,” Lehman told BarrieToday.

“People who live in the area of Innisfil, Perry and Henry streets have concerns about the roads and the potential for it to be an alternate for Dunlop Street, which add lots of traffic to their streets," the mayor added. "By and large, no one is really upset or overly negative and while there is so many more steps yet to go, tonight was a very good night.”

Mike Bickers, a homeowner on Eccles Street, was at the neighbourhood meeting to get more information. The 33-year-old told BarrieToday he has very little concern with the project.

“The presentation from the folks with HIP was great and I know it’s the early stages still, but so far so good,” said Bickers. “The only concern I’ve had, so far, was I didn’t know they were going to be rentals and thought they were going to be condos.

"My hope is that someone has done the studies to make sure they can fill these high-end looking apartments," he added. "But I am very pleased with the YMCA inclusion as I feel that will really make the whole thing come alive.”

This was the first look at the concept for the development until HIP makes an application, where there will be a public meeting for more information and items of concern.


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Shawn Gibson

About the Author: Shawn Gibson

Shawn Gibson is a staff writer based in Barrie
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