Construction crews are starting to make progress on a major new retail centre in Barrie’s north end.
The North Barrie Crossing development is almost done its first phase. It’s being built on 45-acres of retail space in the area of Duckworth Street and Cundles Road
Zehrs and Shoppers Drug Mart will be the first major retailers to open this month. A massive Cineplex move theater will also open this summer.
"It's an eight auditorium theatre and it's going to be bringing 50 jobs to the community," says Sarah Van Lange, a spokesperson for Cineplex Entertainment.
The theatre will feature an ultra AVX auditorium with a 65-foot screen, reserved seating and two rows of D-Box motion seats.
"These are seats that move in concert with what's happening on the big screen, so they vibrate and move up and down."
Doug Shipley is the councillor for the area and is optimistic the development will alleviate some traffic headaches.
"It's going to give people some local options up here, alleviate traffic in the south end and hopefully bring in people in from the Oro-Horseshoe areas."
One of the delays in the whole development was a condo project at the site, which got cancelled. However, Barrie developer Pratt Homes is about to take over and finish it.
"The north end needs attention,” says Karen Hansen of Pratt Homes. “The north end needs new developments."
Pratt plans to go ahead with the six-story condo they will call the “Junction”, but there will be a change to the original plan. They want to remove shops from the main level.
“Because the building itself is close to the commercial amenities in the area."
Barrie city council still has to sign off on that change. Pratt Homes’ plans for the condos will go before council later this month for approval.
If everything goes as plan, Pratt is hoping to bring the condos to market in August.
