Almost a year after Barrie Central closed its doors as a high school, work continues on bringing a new purpose and life to the site.
Purchased by Waterloo-based HIP Developments Jan. 31, the 7.4-acre site abuts several city-owned properties, including Red Storey Field.
“At this point, we continue to work with the city on several items including planned demolition, site services, area storm water management, the possibility of retaining and using a few existing structures,” said HIP Developments’ President Scott Higgins.
The site includes not only Barrie Central, but also Prince of Wales Public School, which closed in June 2011 after serving the community for 135 years.
The development site has frontage on both Dunlop and Bradford streets. Simcoe Street – the lake-side drive in downtown – also ends at the site.
“We are planning for some demolition to happen later this year after permits are obtained. We also hope to share a preliminary development concept by late summer after concluding discussions with the city,” Higgins added.
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman said HIP Developments specializes in mid-rise condos.
“If you look at their portfolio, eight to 15 stories is their wheelhouse. They've got some neat stuff integrating historic buildings, which we're pleased to see given that (this development) includes Prince of Wales. I think it's fair to say the size of that site makes it a strategic investment for them and for the city, for all of us.”
Lehman added the city owns not just Red Storey Field, but vacant sites on Bradford Street.
“So we're continuing our discussions with them to see if we can get something that the sum of the parts is greater than it would be independently. Their primary focus is residential. They are well-backed. I think they're a good company.
“What's been great with them so far is they've fully engaged with us to say, ‘You know this is what we want to do and what we hope to get out of it but we recognize the site is so prominent that other good things could happen especially near the corner of Dunlop and Bradford'.”
Lehman said he’d like to see more residential anchoring the west end of downtown, but he added the old school site has its challenges.
“It's a tricky site actually. Kidd’s Creek runs underneath it. There's some flooding concerns. We're going to have to deal with that,” he said.
“But it's also an incredible site. It's at two arterial roads in the west end of our downtown, so that's one where it's maybe something less traditional is a good idea in the sense of mix of uses to really anchor the west end.”
