Worries about devalued homes, garbage and privacy were some of the main concerns raised by Barrie residents at an information session in regards to a planned social housing project on Rose Street last night.
Area residents were invited to the Barrie City Hall Rotunda on Wednesday evening to ask questions about a planned social housing development at 20 Rose St., The property, located adjacent to Highway 400 near Bayfield Street, is the site of the former Ontario Provincial Police detachment.
The proposed development is part of Simcoe County’s 10-Year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy.
The estimated $217-million development, consisting of two apartment towers of nine- and 11-storey buildings, is designed to include “diverse or mixed housing types, including rent-geared-to-income, affordable housing, along with space for social, health and community partners,” according to a handout.
The commercial aspect of the project will include a licensed child-care facility, as well as education and social service agencies, such as Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offices, as well as Children's and Community Services and Social Housing offices.
"This is a public information session that the county is putting on for its Rose Street affordable housing development, so this is a chance to showcase the design," Brad Spiewak, the county's director of social housing, told BarrieToday at the meeting. "People can give us some feedback and have a look at what we are proposing.
The event was to “showcase the amount of affordable housing that is desperately needed, and that the county is contributing,” he added.
Attendance was sparse, with approximately a dozen residents at the beginning of the two-hour session.
Spiewak said there were questions and concerns about landscaping, sight lines, privacy and traffic.
“Those are typically what we often hear about and we try to address those the best we can,” he said.
“We obviously have to be responsible with taxpayer money, and we need to make sure we’re filling a need, but also be respectful of the neighbourhood the best we can. That is the balancing act," Spiewak said.
Brenda Stern, a Rose Street resident for 12 years and whose home is across the street from the development, said she had some concerns.
“The entrance appears to be going in right across the street from me,” she told BarrieToday. “It affects everyone on Rose Street and it’s going to devalue our houses. “We felt safe before; I don’t feel safe anymore.
“Who’s going to want to buy a house across from this? I don’t think most people would like it," Stern added. "It’s definitely going to devalue (our house) and I want compensation for that. Whether Simcoe County wants to give it or not, we might go further with this."
Other residents seemed satisfied and found the answers they were looking for.
Henri Rohner and his wife, Jackie, have lived on the Ottaway Avenue cul-de-sac, which backs onto the social housing site, for 20 years.
They are concerned about how garbage will be stored and handled at the rear of the buildings adjacent to their home. The couple was also looking for information detailing the privacy fence between the properties.
The answers he received from officials at the meeting were “satisfactory. I give them full marks,” said Henri, adding affordable housing is needed.
"And we’re not here to beat anybody up, just to express our opinion," he added. "The way they are going about it, it looks like it’s in the right direction."
The complex, which will be about 282,000 square feet in size — including 80,000 square feet for commercial agency space — will include 64 rent-geared-to-income units, 24 units at 80 per cent average market rent (AMR), 99 units at 100 per cent AMR and 28 units at 120 per cent AMR.
The county estimates construction should be completed in 2026 or 2027.
Click here for more information on the development.
Inquiries can also be sent via email to [email protected], or by calling the Social Housing Department at 705-726-9300, ext. 1485.
