Simcoe County council has finally put its finger on the mixed-income, mixed-use residential development to be built at 20 Rose St. in Barrie.
It will be 215 housing units in nine- and 11-storey towers plus a parking garage, costing just more than $217 million, council decided Tuesday morning.
This was the third of four options presented to council by county staff.
“I’m personally quite comfortable deciding today on option three to move forward… so that we don’t delay this anymore,” said Ramara Township Deputy Mayor Keith Bell.
“Certainly we think it strikes the balance between a reasonable net benefit, a fair capital cost, an appropriate amount of units that we’re putting into a neighbourhood,” said Brad Spiewak, the county’s social housing director. “We do want our buildings to blend in our community.”
Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor James Leduc said he wants this project done right.
“We can prove to the residents around the areas that we can build these kinds of complexes without having any social stigma to them,” he said.
The breakdown will be a mix of 500-square-foot and one-bedroom, 640-sq.-ft. apartments (only a handful of them studios); two-bedroom, 950-sq.-ft. apartments; and three-bedroom units of 1,100 sq. ft. each.
The County of Simcoe’s share of capital construction costs is just more than $128 million, Barrie’s $45.9 million, Orillia’s $9.6 million and the province’s $6 million. The county expects revenues of $27.3 million from what it calls proceeds of disposition, or selling existing properties.
The $217-million cost is based on what the project will cost in three years, factoring in inflation.
The project approved by county council on Tuesday is larger than what staff called the base case – 176 units, nine and 11 storeys, ground floor and second-floor commercial and a parking structure of three levels, one below grade, at $198.6 million, contemplated last spring.
County council also looked at options with 188 units for $199.3 million and 271 units for $240 million.
But county staff said option three provides an appropriate mix of uses, including commercial, community and social services agency space and residential units for seniors, families and individuals that balance a range of incomes and housing needs and creates a secure, high-quality, well-maintained living environment in a residential neighbourhood.
This option also incorporates agency space, Ontario Works, above the parking structure.
A multi-use energy-efficient building, it includes affordable housing units, replacement rent-geared-to-income units and community services resources and supports through the County of Simcoe, including children’s services, community services and social housing services.
The property formerly housed the Barrie Ontario Provincial Police detachment, since demolished, and has been the site of a temporary homeless shelter.
