The sound of metal on metal, grinding gears and debris dropping into a dump truck continues downtown during the demolition of the former Barrie Central high school.
Talks also continue between Waterloo-based HIP Developments and the city on a land swap in the area to possibly save Fisher Auditorium as well as find space for a new YMCA facility.
The swap could see city-owned land on Bradford Street and the former Red Storey Field going to HIP in exchange for the auditorium and the land surrounding it as well as a parcel at the corner of High and Dunlop streets for the Y.
“It’s no secret we’re having conversations with the city on the potential to do something a little grander at that corner,“ said HIP Developments president Scott Higgins.
However, he didn’t want to give too much detail and how it might all shake out in the end.
“We’re still bound by some level of confidentiality,” Higgins added, “but we’re encouraged by the talks we’ve had. I think we’re getting reasonably close.”
Mayor Jeff Lehman said although the negotiations are being led by city staff, he also characterized discussions as “going well.”
While demolition continues in certain portions of the site, a staff memo came to council recently indicating some areas around the auditorium had been affected during the teardown.
“In late February, staff became aware that demolition had progressed to portions of the building that had been contemplated for potential back-of-house functions and conference events space,” the memo states. “No demolition had occurred of the auditorium itself.”
A revised design plan for saving the auditorium will be completed and brought back to council.
Higgins said areas razed all fell within the original demolition plan.
“It sounds like there may have been a little breakdown in communication that’s since been resolved,” he said. “But no, that’s not a work plan that went too far.”
Lehman doesn’t believe it will have a dire effect.
“The architects feel this area was not critical and may be better to be rebuilt to modern standards anyway,” he said.
HIP Developments’ plans for the site include mixed residential with some commercial along Bradford Street.
“The site is steeped in history and it’s a very important site for the city,” Higgins acknowledged.
The project could also retain the walls and facade of the former Prince of Wales elementary school on Bradford Street with the idea of making it a “landscaped classroom.”
There are still several hurdles to go through before anything is even built on the site.
“Right now, we’re just working on pinning down the development boundary with the city and what they might want to do,” Higgins said. “Best case, you’re looking at some time in 2019 to be moving into construction.”
Lehman, who’s a Barrie Central alumnus and fought hard to keep the school open only to see it now facing demolition, said it’s even tougher to see it happen without a replacement high school in place.
“Certainly, given the new (south-end) high school hasn't even broken ground yet, the school board's decision to close Central a few years ago is looking worse and worse as time goes by,” the mayor said. “However, I'm excited by the project to save Fisher Auditorium and the potential to maintain Central's legacy through it.”
