Work is now underway on two new purpose-built rental housing developments in Barrie, with nearly 350 new rental units expected to be ready within the next two years. One development will be on Coulter Street not far from Bayfield Street and another development will be along Yonge Street near Minet’s Point, bringing some much-needed affordable housing to the city. Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall was joined by the developers to announce the details surrounding the highly anticipated projects. Nuttall told CTV News the projects being carried out by YYZed Project Management are critical to the creation of more affordable housing. He said so far, this year, new build numbers are record pace for the city. Through the first four months of this year, about 570 units have started construction. That’s a 170 per cent growth over last year and a record number four months ever for the city. “Together, these projects represent meaningful progress in expanding our housing supply and expanding affordability in this city,” said Nuttall. “These projects are part of a broader deliberate plan that council is delivering more than 770 affordable housing units across the city of Barrie.” Nuttall said the city is on pace to have anywhere from 2,500 to 2,500 new units being built in Barrie this year alone. The most ever in a single year was 1,970. The developers told CTV News, work has been going on at the site for a couple of weeks. They also said there could be occupancy on the lower floors of the units within about two years.
