A new YMCA facility in downtown Barrie could be penciled in to a preliminary site plan for the revamped Fisher auditorium property, even though there is still some level of reservation around the council table.
Councillors gave initial approval Monday night at general committee for staff to include the Y in the Fisher Auditorium and Event Centre site plan, at the former Barrie Central Collegiate, as well as start negotiations with the Y about possibly using land surplus to the city’s needs. Whether that could be in the form of a property purchase or a land lease at the corner of Dunlop and High streets, if at all, remains to be seen.
The debate around including the YMCA in the Fisher auditorium site plan came during discussion around a land swap between the city and HIP Developments.
YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka CEO Rob Armstrong said he was “encouraged” by council’s decision to have the Y building in the preliminary drawings.
“(Monday) night was great step towards us being able to officially announce plans for a new Barrie Y on the former Barrie Central Collegiate site,” Armstrong told BarrieToday.
The YMCA has long wanted to move into new quarters downtown. The organization hopes to build a new 50,000-square-foot facility, with expanded services, that could be used by its more than 5,000 members.
Meanwhile, the city and Waterloo-based HIP Developments, which has plans for a residential project in the Dunlop-Bradford area, are closing in on exchanging several pieces of land.
Councillors gave initial approval to the land deal on Monday, but a final decision is expected next week at city council.
The exchange would see several properties in the area of Dunlop and Bradford streets to go HIP, including Red Storey Field, as well as 34, 36, 38 and 40 Bradford St.
The city would also begin expropriation proceedings for 44 Bradford St., to acquire this property, at HIP’s expense; it would become part of the developer’s land parcel.
The Fisher auditorium building and property would go to the city, which has plans for a $25.6-million theatre and events centre. The city would also receive a parcel of land to the east fronting on Dunlop and Bradford streets, which could be used for new Y building.
The redevelopment project still has several hurdles to overcome, including finalization of the land deal, a preliminary site plan for the theatre project and how it will be funded, as well as working out details on the possible partnership with the Y.
Armstrong said he understands there is still a ways to go, but added he was encouraged city staff was directed to include a new YMCA in its site plan.
“We understand that the city and HIP Developments have to finalize their agreement first,” he said. “We are confident that once that is in place, our negotiations with the city can begin.”
Armstrong said the Barrie Central site is a great fit for what the YMCA wants to do and also meshes with the city’s objectives by making it a gateway to downtown.
A new YMCA, which would replace the building on Grove Street near Bayfield Street and Highway 400, has been on the radar for many years.
“The Y on Grove Street was built to meet the needs of Barrie over 50 years ago,” Armstrong said. “Our city has changed and the role of the Y has evolved.
“We feel that the Barrie Central site is the location that best meets the needs of our community,” he added.
The YMCA’s Grove Street property will be sold and rezoned to make way for residential apartments. However, the Y would stay at that location during the initial phases of the residential project.
“We’re in an OK place,” Armstrong said of the current situation. “There are a lot of dominoes that have to fall in the right order.”
There were plans to include a new YMCA facility in the Allandale Station project along the lakeshore, but it fell apart a few years ago.
Councillors discussed a possible YMCA partnership at length on Monday night during talks around the Central site.
“I can tell you I’m pretty serious about having the YMCA downtown, as I have been since my first term of council back in 2006, and 2010, when we were looking at the Allandale Station lands,” said Coun. Andrew Prince, adding he’d like to see more “hard facts” about what the potential agreement with the YMCA would entail.
Coun. Sergio Morales said it also has to be a good deal for the city.
“This is not something that they’ve just been working on for a year or two,” Morales said of the YMCA.
Councillors debated, with legal opinions also presented, the wording of the motion, and whether “discussions” wasn’t firm enough and should instead use the word “negotiations.”
Morales said the YMCA wants a level of commitment from the city in order to begin its fundraising campaign, adding they are “enthusiastic” about taking another stab at a new downtown location.
Coun. Arif Khan said city council would still have a right to say no to whatever is presented by the YMCA for the land.
Coun. Barry Ward said there are several factors to consider before the city can give its full commitment to the YMCA being at that location, while also questioning whether the city would be tied to the deal if the Fisher auditorium plan goes ahead or not.
Morales said it’s understandable that the Y is expecting a high level of commitment from the city at that location.
“If we continue to just have discussions, it’s kind of like you’re still dating, but you haven’t given her the ring yet and it’s been 10 years,” said Morales, who called the Y plan “a strategic anchor development” that would “spur social and economic development in this area of town.”
Barrie CAO Michael Prowse said the YMCA will be looking for some level of assurance so they can proceed on even a preliminary level.
“We’ve continued to work with them collaboratively and tried to put something together that makes sense for both parties,” Prowse said. “At the end of the day, the reality is there will be some questions that are not yet answered and will only be answered in time.”
Mayor Jeff Lehman said he hopes councillors will support the Y setting up shop on the Central site.
“The YMCA is for the entire community: it’s a major service hub, it’s major fitness facility and it’s a place where thousands of people will come every week,” he said. “This is a substantial investment that the city has been asked to partner on.”
Morales called it a “once-in-generation” opportunity.
“The YMCA doesn’t relocate every 10 years. I believe in Barrie it’s once every 40 to 60 years,” he said.
Armstrong, meanwhile, said he’d like to see negotiations underway as soon as possible.
“Ideally, we’d like to work on it during the summer and come back to council in the fall with something that works,” he said. “We’ve been working on this (a new facility) for a long time and that’s the site (at the former Barrie Central Collegiate) that has always made the most sense.”
