development Archives - CompassNews

More affordable rental units at the Skyline towers

Stephen J. Donkers — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:39:23 +0000

More than 100 affordable rental units are coming to Barrie’s north end as SkyDev advances construction of the Skyline towers.

Located at 26 Grove St. W., the development includes the completed 25-storey Tower A, the nearly finished 29-storey Tower B and the newly launched 34-storey Tower C, which the City of Barrie and SkyDev announced recently.

Once complete, the three-tower development will provide 930 purpose-built rental apartments, including 105 affordable housing units. Tower C will add 365 apartments, 73 of which will be designated as affordable through the City of Barrie’s development charge deferral program.

Mayor Alex Nuttall said increasing the supply of purpose-built rental housing is key to improving affordability in the city.

“We’ve been amongst the highest rents in the country for years – at one point, we were the second highest in the country, and by bringing these units to market, we’re able to help Barrie families get great housing,” he said.

Exploring affordable housing through the private sector

Nuttall said council has made affordable housing a priority but added that partnerships with the private sector are essential to delivering new homes.

“One of the biggest challenges facing our city is affordability,” he said.

READ MORE: Ambitious highrise plan on Bradford Street could reshape Barrie’s skyline

“Too many residents are working hard, raising families and contributing to our city, but are struggling to find a home they can afford, and that’s why council has made affordable housing a priority in the City of Barrie. Government can’t build housing alone,” Nuttall said. “Our role is to create the conditions for our partners to build homes faster and to work with those partners to deliver solutions that make a real difference for our residents.”

Barrie is supporting the project through its housing incentive programs, which are intended to encourage the construction of affordable housing as part of new residential developments.

City officials say the development reflects Barrie’s broader strategy to increase the housing supply while expanding access to affordable homes for residents.

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Barrie announces more affordable housing units for downtown

Stephen J. Donkers — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:29:04 +0000

More affordable housing units are coming to downtown Barrie.

Announced July 8 at the future 17 Sophia St. E. development site, the project will feature a 26-storey residential tower with 268 purpose-built rental units, including 54 affordable rental apartments, along with a five-storey above-ground parking structure.

Mayor Alex Nuttall, Ward 2 Coun. Craig Nixon and city officials joined representatives from Black Creek Group and Peakhill Capital to announce the development. The project has been rezoned and is awaiting site plan approval before construction can begin.

Nuttall said the project marks another step toward increasing Barrie’s housing supply and expanding affordable housing options.

“We need to build more homes, and we need to build more affordable homes, and that’s what we’re doing here today,” he said.

“This is another major step toward increasing housing supply in Barrie and giving more people the opportunity to find a place that they can afford.”

Nuttall added that the city has focused on easing residential development with quicker processing and more private contributions.

“We’ve made it a priority to remove barriers, to speed up approvals, to create conditions that encourage investment,” he said.

“When the private sector is ready to build, our job is to help that get underway, and that’s exactly what this announcement here represents.”

Nixon, whose ward includes the downtown, said adding more residents will strengthen the neighbourhood and help small business thrive.

“Ward 2 has always been the heart of Barrie. It’s where people come to live, work, enjoy our waterfront, support local businesses, and experience everything our city has to offer,” he said.

“As our downtown continues to grow, it’s important that we create opportunities for more people to call this neighbourhood home. Projects like this help strengthen the vibrancy of our downtown.”

Black Creek Group founder and managing partner Nicholas Francis said the development has overcome significant economic challenges throughout the planning process.

“Over the past four years, through major market turbulence, about every other obstacle that you could throw in front of a project, we’re here today to celebrate what’s going to be an amazing addition to the downtown Barrie community,” he said.

George Misik, vice-president of financing at Peakhill Capital, said Barrie continues to be an attractive community for investment.

“We continue to support its growth. Not only is it one of the places to grow designated by the Province of Ontario, but it is a wonderful place to be,” he said.

The announcement follows several other affordable housing projects approved in Barrie, including 38 units at 53 Coulter St., 31 units at 375 Yonge St. and 46 units at 52 Lakeside Terr.

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Three new tenants to replace former Bay at Georgian Mall

Stephen J. Donkers — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:18:09 +0000

From one department store to three new retailers.

RioCan has unveiled plans to redevelop the former Hudson’s Bay store at Georgian Mall, replacing the roughly 90,700-square-foot space with Longo’s, Mark’s and GYMVMT by GoodLife Fitness.

Rather than seeking another single department store to fill the vacant anchor space, RioCan opted to divide it among retailers offering grocery, apparel and fitness services.

Moshe Batalion, vice-president of national leasing at RioCan, said it was the expected future habits of Barrie residents that drove the redevelopment.

“A key focus for RioCan was ensuring the space best meets the long-term needs of the Barrie community,” he said.

“As Barrie continues to grow, RioCan is committed to ensuring that Georgian Mall reflects the needs of the community. The addition of Longo’s, GYMVMT by GoodLife Fitness and Mark’s delivers on this, bringing sought-after services and everyday essentials to local residents while providing greater convenience and choice.”

Batalion said Barrie’s rapid population growth played a significant role in shaping the redevelopment.

“RioCan is consistently keeping a pulse on Canadian communities to understand growth patterns and evolving needs,” he said.

“Barrie continues to demonstrate strong growth and presents a compelling opportunity for both retailers and residents.”

RioCan declined to say how long it took to secure the new tenants, but Batalion said the company relied on longstanding relationships with major Canadian companies.

“Our strong relationships with Canada’s leading retailers position us to proactively identify and advance opportunities when space becomes available,” he said.

Batalion said the redevelopment was guided by RioCan’s focus on necessity-based retail and community-focused offerings.

“The addition of Longo’s, GYMVMT by GoodLife Fitness and Mark’s reflects a deliberate mix of grocery, fitness and apparel that complements and strengthens the existing tenant mix while enhancing convenience and choice for Barrie residents,” he said.

“Both Longo’s and GYMVMT are new-to-market brands in Barrie, underscoring RioCan’s strong track record of attracting leading retailers and introducing first-to-market concepts that align with community needs.”

He added the redevelopment also reflects RioCan’s confidence in the long-term future of Georgian Mall.

“The redevelopment represents an important evolution of the property and reflects RioCan’s commitment to ensuring Georgian Mall continues to meet the needs of the Barrie community,” he said.

The three retailers are expected to open in mid-to late 2027.

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Residents push back against major Barrie south development proposal

Stephen J. Donkers — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:24:30 +0000

How tall is too tall?

A proposed high-density development on Essa Road is facing strong opposition from area residents, who argue the project is too large for the surrounding neighbourhood.

During a June 3 meeting of Barrie’s Affordability Committee, several residents raised concerns about a proposal for 550-576 Essa Rd., near Mapleton Avenue. The area is primarily made up of low-density subdivisions, a commercial plaza and an eight-storey residential building currently under construction.

The proposal includes two residential towers of 16 and 18 storeys, six townhouse blocks, 806 residential units and 660 parking spaces.

Eric Brathwaite of MHBC Planning presented the application to councillors, city staff and residents. Ten residents spoke against the proposal during the meeting.

Nancy Tuckett, who lives near the site, said she supports residential intensification but believes the scale of the project is inappropriate for the neighbourhood.

“The height of 16 and 18 storeys on a site that’s 4.63 acres, with a proposal of 806 units at an FSI of 2.49, is extreme – it’s far too high,” she said.

Tuckett suggested developments of that scale would be more appropriate in Barrie’s downtown core or along the Highway 400 corridor.

Marian Wilkins, who has lived in the area for nearly 30 years, also questioned whether the towers would fit into the existing community.

“The proposal of 16 and 18 storeys just won’t look good in this neighbourhood,” she said.

Mark, who lives close to the site, said privacy is his primary concern.

“The prospect of a multi-storey building with direct sight lines into our living space, I find deeply troubling,” he said.

Nicole Murphy, whose property backs onto the development site, expressed concerns about increased traffic along the corridor.

“The traffic issue is significant. This is not even taking into account that further south on Essa Road there are more buildings coming,” she said.

Coun. Gary Harvey, who represents the area, noted that Mayor Alex Nuttall has consistently advocated for directing the city’s tallest and densest developments to specific areas.

“It’s important to highlight that on several occasions throughout this term, the mayor has been quite clear when it comes to development – that high-density developments need to be in the downtown, near transit hubs and near Highway 400,” Harvey said.

“I don’t see this meeting any of those check boxes.”

Council has not made a decision on the proposal yet. City staff will report back later with a recommendation after reviewing the application.

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More affordable housing planned for Barrie

Stephen J. Donkers — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:25:48 +0000

Another 69 affordable housing units are coming to Barrie.

Mayor Alex Nuttall announced on May 21 that two new apartment rental developments will bring a total of 341 rental units to the city.

A 12-storey apartment building at 53 Coulter St. will mean 188 units, including 38 affordable units. Another development – an eight-storey apartment building at 375 Yonge St. – will add 153 units, including 31 affordable units.

Nuttall, who made the announcement at the Coulter Street site, said improving housing affordability remains a top priority for the city.

“Across our community and across the province, we continue to hear from residents who are struggling to find housing that fits their budget,” he said.

“That’s why we’re increasing supply and improving affordability, and it remains one of the city’s top priorities.”

Nuttall said council will continue working to bring more affordable housing options to Barrie.

“Our focus remains on ensuring we’re building the housing people need in the places where growth is already happening, while maintaining the viability required to actually deliver these projects,” he said.

“At the end of the day, it’s about results. More housing means more affordability and steady progress toward a stronger, more affordable Barrie.”

The projects are part of Barrie’s development charge waiver program, which temporarily reduces fees for developers building affordable housing. The program began earlier this year and applications close this spring.

Sam Di Pasquale of YYZed Project Management, which is overseeing the developments, praised the city’s approach.

“The city has taken a practical, solutions-focused approach that helps keep projects moving instead of getting stalled in process,” he said.

“In today’s environment, that collaboration matters.”

Earlier in May, the city announced another affordable housing project in Barrie’s north end at 52 Lakeside Ter. The 12-storey apartment building will include 185 market-rent units and 46 affordable units.

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Residents raise concerns about proposed mix-use downtown building

Stephen J. Donkers — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:40:45 +0000

Residents voiced concerns about a proposed mixed-use development in the downtown core during a public meeting at Barrie City Hall in February.

The project, planned for 149, 151, and 153 Dunlop Street East, includes a building of up to 25 storeys with 160 residential units, ground-floor commercial space, and 135 parking spots.

Dozens of locals attended the meeting, with many residents of the nearby Bayshore Landing condos expressing unease about the development. Resident Ian Rowe stated that the submitted reports on the proposal confirmed his belief that the site is unsuitable for intensive development.

“It will obliterate one of three public views of Kempenfelt Bay,” he said. “The proximity to the land and resulting high water table restricts the ability to adequately utilize underground parking.”

Rowe also said he has concerns about an increase in traffic.

“The traffic issues include the street is one very steep hill at an intersection that is often difficult to climb during the winter months.”

Diane Vetter expressed concerns that the proposed building would be an eyesore for those who appreciate the waterfront and questioned whether the site would be better suited for a different type of development.

“In front of you, you would see this 25 storey tower sticking up like a sore thumb,” she said.

“What about an environmental science facility? What about a new home for the MacLaren Art Centre? What about a Barrie Northshore Centre?”

Jelani Bartlett supports the project but believes some adjustments are needed, including suggesting the inclusion of car-sharing programs if the parking ratio is low.

“For every four to five parking spots short, one must provide a car share parking spot as this would better help with understanding the reduction in parking,” he said.

David Riley of Blackthorn Development Corp. stated that the site has been designated for high-density development, with a maximum height of 25 storeys under city bylaw.

“In terms of height and density, we are looking at exactly what’s contemplated by city policy and emerging zoning,” he said.

Coun. Craig Nixon, who represents the area of the proposed site, said that while it’s a big project, listening to residents is vital.

“This is an ambitious project,” he said. “This location is very near and dear to the hearts of a lot of people.”

Mayor Alex Nuttall said he and Coun. Nixon could investigate scheduling a meeting with Bayshore Landing residents to discuss the project further.

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