Plans for new YMCA hub near Barrie downtown library axed due to skyrocketing costs
Officials with the YMCA are again searching for a new home in Barrie as rising prices have made the organization's current plans out of reach.
The YMCA of Simcoe-Muskoka has announced plans for its new facility in Barrie's H-Block, adjacent to the public library, will not come to fruition. Updated costs for the site are nearly $90 million, far out of reach for the not-for-profit.
"As a not-for-profit charitable organization, we do not have that kind of money and nor does our community right now, so we really need to step back and pause and take a look and see what other sites might be available," says Jill Tettmann, the organization's president and CEO.
The costs were last estimated in November 2019 at approximately $45-million. However, Tettmann attributes the rise mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parking, which she says is mandatory for the new facility, would have had to be underground at the site previously selected, something she says also added to the overall price. Locating downtown has been a critical part of the organization's vision.
"That was where we believed the need was where we could really fill a gap in some of the services that were missing in the downtown core of Barrie," says Tettmann. "We don't know that there's property downtown that we can afford. So we might have to go a little bit further. We want to make sure that where we end up that there are good service routes, that there's good bus routes, that there's a population that needs the YMCA."
Tettmann calls the new facility a community hub. In addition to the traditional health, fitness and aquatic resources, the new centre will also have child care spaces, transitional youth housing and other programs and services for seniors and youth.
While willing to adjust plans to fit whatever potential land becomes available, Tettmann says the core vision for the new facility will remain intact.
"We think there are some things that we can make a little bit smaller and tweak a little bit in our design, but we don't want to lose the essence of that vision of a community hub that is really much broader than health, fitness & aquatics," she says.
Last year the group received a $29.9-million grant from the province for the new project. That money must be used by 2027.
Tettmann says the new goal is to have shovels in the ground by Fall 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.