Barrie’s largest affordable housing initiative kicks off construction

Barrie’s largest affordable housing initiative to date is moving forward as workers broke ground Tuesday, kicking off construction for phase one.

The development on Rose Street will bring 220 new units to Barrie, and according to the County of Simcoe, 80 per cent of those units will be considered affordable and listed below market rate.

Two towers will be built on the site, comprising studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom suites.

Dedicated office space for various county and provincial services will be housed on the upper floors above the adjacent parking structure. On the lower level, commercial space will be allocated for health and community services, including licensed childcare.

This is an ambitious project that officials say is meant to help address the region’s growing housing crisis.

“When you think about the last really large affordable housing build, it was the area I grew up in, in Mill Creek,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. “We really do need to have a focus on helping those who need it most, and giving those families an opportunity to have a roof over their head and to be successful in life.”

County of Simcoe Warden Basil Clarke echoed that sentiment.

“It’s not even about the 220 families we’re helping today, it’s the families of tomorrow, and next year, and the year after that. There will be thousands of families that come through this building because we build these buildings to last 100 years,” Clarke said.

Phase one will include construction of the parking structure and community services space, which is expected to be completed next year.

The residential units and commercial space will be built in phase two, with completion expected in 2027. Tenants will be able to move in shortly after phase two wraps up sometime in 2027.

As for when construction will begin in earnest, the County says major work is slated to start by the end of this month.