Barrie councillors saw three very different visions for one of the city’s most strategic sites – the old Allandale Station lands – with the visions ranging from a largely private company plan to a very interactive YMCA plan.

At a special General Committee meeting Tuesday, three of the five responses to the city’s expressions of interest were revealed, although the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka had made its plans public a month ago, just days after the call for bids closed.

On the other extreme – on both development and in style – is a Magna subsidiary, Magna Marque.

Barrie’s senior real estate officer Peter Dyck described the plan submitted by an “undisclosed company”; however, the proposals had been quickly outlined at a public meeting of Heritage Barrie a couple of weeks ago.

Magna’s plan is “to create a commercial and transportation node” on the site of the old station, which consists of three buildings constructed between 1895 and 1905 and connected by breezeways.

The old station would be integrated into a proposed boutique hotel, according to the Magna plan by Taylor Design Group. The secondary GO station would be located to the rear of that, closer to Gowan Street. Internal roads would divide up the site and to the west, the area where the lawn bowling club once was would be a retail node, with three new buildings. To the east of the old station would be an outdoor amphitheatre and an office building.

“Last but not least is the marina, (which would) be integrated with traffic through the signalized intersection (proposed for Lakeshore Drive) and to the west of the Kiwanis Pavilion on the south shore of Kempenfelt Bay. The marina would be private.

“Overall, it’s a very exciting usage and we look forward to seeing more from this proponent,” said Dyck, adding the project could be done in phases.

There were no details as to the cost of the project, except Dyck noted the project would not require any public contribution.

On the other extreme is a $19.8-million YMCA, which would require the Y to seek a total of $2 million in federal and provincial grants as well as raise $6 million in a public campaign. The Y would also use money from the sale of its current Grove Street site, as well as money from endowments and capital and operating funds set aside for a new facility, noted YMCA CEO Tom Coon.

“The Y by the Bay will be the public-use centre for the Allandale community and be a destination for visitors to Barrie. The Y will be the hub of Allandale,” he told council.

“The movement of people using the YMCA programs and services – from childcare to leadership training to health and wellness – will stimulate commercial development and increase property values. The Barrie Y will enhance the quality of life for all the residents of Barrie.”

He also noted that the proposal is very transparent in two ways: architecturally, as glass walls integrate the old station with the new Y and a public atrium and the city’s waterfront and downtown; and returning the Y to its roots, as the first Y was located in what’s now Shutters Restaurant.

Coon also noted the Y will stimulate investment and wealth in the area. “Studies have indicated that a well-located public-use facility capital expenditure will stimulate private sector investment at a rate between $8 and $12 or every $1 spent for public use. That could see the potential of $160 million or more in future investment,” he said, adding the Y’s project in Calgary’s Eau Claire Market spurred on the redevelopment of the market and promenade, which is a social gathering spot for city residents. The project also includes a secondary GO station, and the Y envisions serving commuters particularly with its childcare and fitness programs.

He said the Y operations and visitors there would inject at least $12.4 million in spending in the city’s downtown economy.

The third plan takes a middle road to create a mixed-use project that will include offices, a six-storey hotel, retail space and a GO train platform.

Forecast Inc. president Kevin Lisso outlined the family-owned company’s proposal that he says has taken pride in higher-quality urban design in its developments, which include shopping centres throughout Ontario, including one in Orangeville that’s up for a North American design award.

“Our buildings are of high-level architectural quality and that’s what we’d like to bring to the Allandale Station. Our partner is Mark Porter, and he brings years of experience restoring historic buildings. He also is the neighbour (as he owns Shutters Restaurant),” he said as he began outlining his ideas.

The site includes a new water feature in front of the old station, which would be restored and linked to the waterfront walking paths via a pedestrian bridge

“We could see it becoming home to destination retail, culture, a broad mix of uses in a unique setting with higher urban design,” he said, noting the plan does intensify uses on the site; the plan includes a six-storey hotel, as well as several retail buildings, including two 20,000-square-foot building nearest the GO station platform on the parcel’s Gowan Street frontage.

“We really want to open this property up to people, air, and beautiful sunshine. This site has so many local advantages and ties back to the community. We can serve commuters, neighbours and tourists. It could be a kick off to having this quadrant vibrant and the hub of activity.”