A stone’s throw from where bands such as the Tragically Hip, Green Day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at the former Molson Park, an official ground-breaking ceremony was held today.
Construction began on the Barrieview Retirement Community project earlier this year, but the formalities were put out of the way on Friday, replete with hard hats and new shovels, even a gold-coloured one.
On hand for Friday’s ceremony were the developers from Extendicare as well as its retirement brand Esprit Lifestyle Communities, politicians Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard and MPP Andrea Khanjin, and a handful of people who will soon call the Barrieview their home.
Marge Nielen, 83, was one of a few future residents present on Friday for the formalities surrounding her new abode. She describes herself as a people person and says she has already one met neighbour who will be living two doors down.
The six-storey, non-combustible building includes 124 suites, including studios as well as one- and two-bedroom units.
Nielen said her unit, which she signed up for just a few weeks ago, is on the top floor above the front entrance, with the Barrie Molson Cente in full view in the distance along Mapleview Drive East.
She says she loves the neighbourhood.
“Location for my doctor, for visitors to come up the 400 and because it’s new, so I’m excited,” said Nielen, who has lived in Barrie since 1976 and worked as an administrator.
“And then you’ve got Redline (Brewhouse) and Tim’s over there,” Nielen said, gesturing over her shoulder to the plaza at Bayview Drive and Churchill Drive/Concert Way.
She drives by the project regularly to see the progress being made on the building, which is already towering well above the ground, set back against a stand of trees, as workers continue to toil away both inside and outside the structure.
Esprit Lifestyle Communities expects occupancy in late spring 2019.
“We hope this is the first of many parties that we’re going to have here at the Barrieview in years to come,” Mark Lugowski, vice-president of Esprit Lifestyle Communities, said as the clanging of hammers and other tools rang nearby.
“This is going to be a beautiful building, but it is just going to be bricks and mortar in the end,” Lugowski added. “What’s going to make it special are the people who work here and the people who live here.”
The facility will offer independent living, assisted living and memory care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
The Barrieview, which will include an in-house movie theatre, a demonstration kitchen and a fitness centre, is located near several amenities, including the BMC, transit and numerous shops and restaurants on the Park Place grounds.
There is also an optometrist and a physiotherapist in the plaza across the street, and the Barrie Primary Care Campus, which includes several health services, is just down the road on Bayview Drive.
Tim Lukenda, president and CEO of Extendicare, said the Barrieview will be “a state-of-the-art” and also marks Esprit’s first “smart retirement community," which could include technology such as in-suite monitoring equipment and better health care.
Lukenda said he sees Barrie is a great fit.
“We could not have picked a better community to build this exciting new centre in,” Lukenda said. “We understand that Barrie is a forward-thinking, age-friendly community that is bustling with festivals, outdoor activities, arts and culture.”
