Little Lake project ready to shove off in city's north end? (4 photos)

Long anticipated but even longer delayed, the Landing at Little Lake could surface this spring.

The northeast Barrie development is to consist of two buildings — a seven-storey, 137-unit (56 one-bedroom and 81 two-bedrooms) condominium project and a managed seniors living project of four storeys and 141 units. The project is to include an exercise centre, indoor swimming pool, spa (with a nail and hair salon), theatre, pub, library, sitting areas and access to the lake and surrounding nature.

The development’s site plan, located at 10 and 20 Little Lake Dr., was received by the city in May 2019 and approved more than two years later in June 2021, but until very recently there was no word when construction would begin on the project.

A message to future residents in late December from Landing Development Group, a Mississauga-based company, said it expects to break ground in early spring, sooner if possible, on the project.

Callista Alexander, who is a future resident there, said it’s good news.

“It was scheduled for completion this past summer. Now it’s 2023,” she said by e-mail. “Our deposits have been held in ‘trust’ for almost three years now. It’s a 55-plus project and we’re all getting older.

“COVID set it back, they say,” Alexander added. “There’s hundreds of seniors waiting to move and getting older with all the delays.” 

The application, and council approval, for an Official Plan amendment for 10 and 20 Little Lake Dr., from general commercial and residential to residential and environmental protection (EP)m dates back to early 2015.

As does the rezoning, at 10 Little Lake Dr., from general commercial to residential apartment first density with special provisions and EP, and at 20 Little Lake Dr., from residential first density to residential apartment first density with special provisions and EP. 

But almost seven years later there are no shovels in the ground.

Landing Development Group officials could not be reached for comment, despite several attempts by BarrieToday.

The Landing on Little Lake is not the only option for seniors in this part of Barrie.

At 50 Lakeside Terrace are three seniors condominium buildings ranging from 10 to 12 storeys. There will be a total of 479 residential units and 516 parking spaces for the three buildings. This community will have easy access to medical offices, a park, Little Lake, the North Barrie commercial plaza and institutional uses across Highway 400. Approvals for this project date back to 2017.