A $29.9-million infusion from the provincial government takes the Barrie YMCA significantly closer to having a shovel in the ground in a year’s time for its new community hub in the city's downtown.
The 77,000-square-foot facility is to include licensed child-care spaces, a youth centre with transitional housing and outreach support, a rehabilitation space for cardiac and cancer post care patients, and recreation areas for fitness programs.
“This project is more about being a centre of community than it is about being a health fitness and aquatics centre,” Jill Tettmann, chief executive officer with the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, said of the plan.
She is confident the project will go ahead somewhere on the sprawling site of the former Barrie Central Collegiate at the corner of Dunlop and Bradford streets, despite recent protestations by the developer over plans for a supervised consumption site (SCS), which has been proposed for nearby Innisfil Street.
Earlier this month, HIP Developments president Scott Higgins questioned Barrie’s proposed SCS location at 11 Innisfil St., and threatened to halt investment in its residential development at the former school site at 34-50 Bradford St., and a portion of 125 Dunlop St. W.
After initial talks, Higgins confirmed planning approvals will continue as discussions around the SCS location continue.
In addition to the YMCA, the site is to include two 20-storey towers, one 10-storey residential building, a semi-public urban parkette containing the heritage facade of the former Prince of Wales school and a five-storey parking structure. In all, there would be 600 residential units on the nearly seven-acre property.
In addition to HIP’s seven acres, the city still owns the Fisher Auditorium property on adjoining land, next door to Barrie Fire and Emergency Services headquarters.
“I’m not concerned that we won’t be building behind me,” Tettman said following Monday morning’s announcement across the street from the development site. “There’s lots of land behind me and we’re continuing to have conversations with both HIP and the city to confirm our site.
“I know that there are still some things to work out, but I am confident we will be confirmed within the next couple of months," she added.
During Monday’s funding announcement, Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Kanjin, a former Barrie Central student, said the partners are “building a legacy” with the Y project.
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey said it's a great addition to the city’s core.
“We’re right on the edge of downtown. What a fantastic place to have it,” he said. “It will help revitalize the downtown.
“The Y is such an integral part of the community," Downey added.
The $29.9 million for the YMCA comes from the province’s new Strategic Priorities Infrastructure Fund and represents 73 per cent of the project’s cost. Although, the exact cost of the project has yet to be finalized, Tettmann later said.
The County of Simcoe has also agreed to provide another $2.5 million. The Y has more that $7 million pledged along with the proceeds from the Grove Street property, the Y’s former home in Barrie.
“A very broad and vocal capital campaign” will also raise money and Tettmann said the City of Barrie will also be asked to make a contribution.
