City, YMCA closing in on deal for H-Block property in downtown Barrie

The YMCA has all but landed property in downtown Barrie to build its new $50-million facility.

Councillors gave initial approval Monday night to a motion that declares surplus a Worsley Street property for the sole purpose of an agreement of purchase and sale with the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka.

This city-owned property, at 50 Worsley St., is known as the H-Block and is just less than two acres. It's located right beside the Barrie Public Library's downtown branch.

“We look forward to continuing conversations with the city to negotiate an agreement of purchase and sale for 50 Worsley St.,” Jill Tettmann, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, said on Tuesday. “We are committed to building a downtown hub and are open to exploring all options to support the community we serve to build health and strength for generations to come.”

Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman said because this is a property negotiation matter, it remains confidential at the moment.

“I can say that discussions with the Y are continuing and quite positive concerning the new building at the H-Block,” he said.

As part of the deal, the YMCA would also be requested to investigate incorporating space for a warming centre, operated from December to March, at its new facility that could also be used as a community engagement room or a use preferred by the Y during the rest of the year.

“We are investigating this opportunity because it would be a great location in the downtown and it would be a permanent warming centre which would address the recent difficulties we’ve had with warming centre locations in Barrie,” said Coun. Natalie Harris, who has pushed for downtown warming centres as the mercury has plunged in recent weeks.

“Although a warming centre is not currently built into our plans, we are open to discussing how the Y can support the most vulnerable populations in our community,” Tettmann said.

Last Friday, an overnight warming centre opened at the Catholic Family Services of Simcoe County’s Anne Street South location, from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week. Also starting that same date was a daytime warming centre at Trinity Anglican Church, at 24 Collier St., beginning at 9 a.m. and running Monday to Friday, into March.

Harris said that, as of Monday, the warming centres at Trinity Anglican Church and Catholic Family Services have had 30 people use them since opening. 

The YMCA motion was discussed behind closed doors Monday evening and is marked on the general committee agenda as ‘confidential potential disposition of property matter - Worsley Street’.

While councillors can discuss a property matter in-camera, or behind closed doors, any motions relating to it, or decisions, must be made in public. This motion was later passed by councillors following two closed-door sessions Monday.

City council will consider final approval of these motions at its Jan. 31 meeting.

In December, city council heard an update of the Y’s plans to build its new, $50-million facility at the H-Block property, right beside the Barrie Public Library. The YMCA also made a $2.5-million capital funding request to the city.

Last June, council gave its legal staff authority to negotiate an agreement of purchase and sale with the YMCA for 50 Worsley St.

The new YMCA facility is to have a three-classroom licensed child care, health and fitness amenities, swimming pools, community meeting spaces and an indoor playground. It will also have permanent space for cancer and cardiac rehabilitation programs delivered by the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) and transitional housing for youth operated by Youth Haven.

The Y has also begun meeting with Barrie Public Library staff to find new opportunities to work together. The new YMCA will support the Barrie health accord and the community safety and well-being plan.

Y officials have said building on the H-Block site supports the city’s vision for the downtown core. The facility would create both short-term employment through the construction phase, along with long-term permanent part-time and full-time jobs. The Y would also bring increased foot traffic into the core to support local small businesses.

With intensification coming to this neighbourhood, it is important to provide amenities to support this development with health and wellness options, licensed child care, public meeting spaces, etc., Y officials say.

Funding for the Y facility will come from several sources.

Late last June, the province announced $29.9-million in funding for the new YMCA facility. Prior to the pandemic, in the fall of 2019, the Y launched its ‘100 Reasons Y’ fundraising campaign, which has already raised $5.5 million.

There will also be $4.5 million from selling the former Y site on Grove Street and $2.5 million in funding from the County of Simcoe, which Barrie is being asked to match. That still leaves a gap of $7.6 million.