It’s not GO time yet for station name
By BOB BRUTON BARRIE EXAMINER
The name-game is on for Barrie’s second GO Transit train station.
The Allandale Neighbourhood Association and the newly formed Allandale Railway Historical Society gave city councillors a lesson Monday on the area’s rail history.
Both groups want the name ‘Allandale’ included in the new GO station’s name along Gowan Street. Its proposed name now is Barrie Waterfront.
“There are four organizations working to preserve and educate (people) on our rich rail history,” said Cathy Colebatch, of the ANA, also mentioning Heritage Barrie and the Barrie Historical Association. “This indicates a real interest in our rail history.
“We have a vision of our history and want to see it established.”
Barrie’s second GO Transit station is to be operational this year. The name of the city’s current GO station, in the south end, on Yonge Street, is being changed to St. Paul’s station in recognition of that area’s history.
Colebatch suggested ‘Allandale-Barrie’ or ‘Barrie-Allandale’ as names for the second GO station.
Mitchell Wilson, of the Allandale Railway Historical Society, told councillors how Barrie’s rail history dates back to the 1850s. Using a slideshow and a detailed explanation, Wilson explained how and why the railway is intertwined with Barrie’s history.
Council did not make a decision on the new GO station’s name on Monday.
It is part of a planned redevelopment of the nine acres of land at Tiffin Street and Lakeshore Drive near the city’s waterfront.
The former Allandale station is also being renovated by the city as part of this proposal, with an estimated $4.5 million price tag.
The city’s original tab for the restoration was $2 million, with the YMCA — which was a development partner with the Correct Group Inc. — picking up the remainder. But the Y withdrew from the redevelopment plan in January of 2010 for financing reasons.
Councillors were told in August of 2009 the station costs had jumped to $2.95 million, and in March of 2010 that they had increased to $3.4 million.
The entire bill now belongs to the city, which is responsible for the overall restoration and programming of the station and its immediate lands.
The former Allandale station is in bad shape, and was further damaged by a Jan. 4, 2009 fire. The city received $200,000 from insurance on the premises, but that did not cover the total cost of repairs.
But work is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of August.
Allandale Village, being developed by CGI, will be on more than half of the old Allandale train station property near Tiffin Street and Lakeshore Drive.
CGI wants the commercial/ residential portion of this project to be as large as 335,000 square feet on almost 4.7 acres of the nine-acre site. There would be five development areas and seven buildings as high as five storeys each of retail, commercial, office, condominium and hotel use.
There would be 224 residential units — half for hotel rooms, half for condominiums. It would take four to six years to build the entire project, with the first phase a minimum of 50,000 sq. ft. as soon as a building permit can be issued. And it’s expected that 65,000-70,000 sq. ft. will be built in each of the next five years, subject to the market and economic conditions.
CGI requires an approved site plan and building permits to move forward. The uses CGI is proposing on this property are allowed by the current zoning.
The employment impact of this development is expected to be 600 jobs, with significant permanent employment created as well.
There will be 471 parking spaces created on the land — 111 on the street and 360 underground.
