Barrie Campus-Lakehead University

[rdaner]

This is the strongest indication yet if intentions after years of speculation. Will be interesting where they locate.

'Very solid roots here': Lakehead planting seeds for Barrie campus?

'We’re at a bit of an interesting moment in time. We’re asking what is next for Lakehead University,' says official in presentation to city council

www.orilliamatters.com

 

[lenaitch]

This is the strongest indication yet if intentions after years of speculation. Will be interesting where they locate.

'Very solid roots here': Lakehead planting seeds for Barrie campus?

'We’re at a bit of an interesting moment in time. We’re asking what is next for Lakehead University,' says official in presentation to city council

www.orilliamatters.com

It would likely have to go in the south end, or our of town. Barrie has a bit of a history of that ("its" fair grounds and major sports field are in the townships).

 

[Northern Light]

It would likely have to go in the south end, or our of town. Barrie has a bit of a history of that ("its" fair grounds and major sports field are in the townships).

I don't like the idea.

I think any campus needs to be walking distance to the GO system, and preferably to downtown Barrie as well.

There's actually lots of low density, low value land (relatively) still close to DT Barrie and Allandale. A fairly dense campus can be built on 15 acres or so.

In looking at it, I think I might choose to extend the GO line along the BCRY just to the 400 and put a station there and then build the campus around it.

Above: 50 acres, the line on the north (top) is the BCRY, distance to Allandale Stn (following the track from the mid-point of a platform 1.4km)

Distance on foot to Allandale station, 1.2km

Distance to DT Barrie, ~2.9km

****

Alternative assembly:

More than large enough.

Distance to DT Barrie: ~400M

Distance to Allandale GO: ~ 1.25km

****

Edit to add, if one were stuck on the idea of a more suburban location, I still like the idea of using the BCRY to extend GO right to the campus, here's a site just over the 400:

In its favour, large site, the southern (bottom) line is the BCRY and could house a GO Station, surrounded by forests, but the western tip of the campus would be on Dunlop which is a straight-shot in downtown Barrie and could see a frequent bus connection.

I still like a more urban location better.

 

[lenaitch]

I don't like the idea.

I think any campus needs to be walking distance to the GO system, and preferably to downtown Barrie as well.

There's actually lots of low density, low value land (relatively) still close to DT Barrie and Allandale. A fairly dense campus can be built on 15 acres or so.

In looking at it, I think I might choose to extend the GO line along the BCRY just to the 400 and put a station there and then build the campus around it.

View attachment 471453


Above: 50 acres, the line on the north (top) is the BCRY, distance to Allandale Stn (following the track from the mid-point of a platform 1.4km)

Distance on foot to Allandale station, 1.2km

Distance to DT Barrie, ~2.9km

****

Alternative assembly:

View attachment 471454

More than large enough.

Distance to DT Barrie: ~400M

Distance to Allandale GO: ~ 1.25km

****

Edit to add, if one were stuck on the idea of a more suburban location, I still like the idea of using the BCRY to extend GO right to the campus, here's a site just over the 400:

View attachment 471462

In its favour, large site, the southern (bottom) line is the BCRY and could house a GO Station, surrounded by forests, but the western tip of the campus would be on Dunlop which is a straight-shot in downtown Barrie and could see a frequent bus connection.

I still like a more urban location better.

1st Pic: Low density, older neighbourhood, yes. I'm not sure I would call it low value (maybe wrt to GTA lands). I'm not sure the headaches of assembling a plot from SFHs would be worth it. There was a massive development proposal for the old fair grounds (where the oval track is) but I don't know the boundaries.

2nd Pic: A lot of the block you have laid out already has re-development proposals in, along with other areas along Bradford St. The big building just south of the oval track of the former Barrie Central HS is the old GE factory and now Barrie By the Barrie offices. As far as I'm concerned, it's on borrowed time. Anything close to downtown is going highrise residential.

3rd Pic: Not bad, but it might be what I call 'bottom land' - it's really wet in there and might be classed as environmentally sensitive. Not insurmountable I suppose.


Otherwise, I'm surprised that pushing GO through somewhere along the BCR into west Barrie isn't on their plans (it might be but I've never heard of it). It is the second growth area after the south end and would certainly ease access to both Allendale and South.