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A 55-acre property at the south entrance to Downtown Barrie is being offered for sale, presenting one of the Central Ontario city’s most significant mixed-use development opportunities to date. Located at 175 through 199 Essa Road and 50 Wood Street at Highway 400, the largely vacant lands, which were formerly the site of the Barrie Fairgrounds and which includes the Barrie Curling Club, are positioned within a designated growth node.
The site is designated in Barrie’s Official Plan for high-density residential growth within a Downtown Mixed Use — High Rise area, and it carries General Commercial and Highway Industrial zoning, allowing for a wide mix of residential and non-residential uses. Townhouses, mid- and high-rise apartments, retail, and community facilities are all contemplated, aligning with the City’s push to build complete communities along the Essa Road corridor. Purchasers also have the opportunity to pursue alternative development concepts.
A rezoning application submitted earlier this year outlines one possible path for the property’s transformation, envisioning between 3,185 and 3,234 new homes. The concept includes 237 to 286 townhouses of up to four storeys, alongside approximately 2,948 condominium and rental apartment units distributed across nine podium-based towers rising as high as 40 storeys. Plans also reserve a centrally located 2.5-hectare block for an elementary school, complemented by retail and service space at grade.
Fronting Essa Road, Anne Street, and Wood Street with Highway 400 forming its western edge, the property offers direct connections to Barrie’s arterial road network and beyond. The site is just a five-minute drive from Allandale Waterfront GO Station, linking residents to Union Station in Toronto. Barrie Transit buses run past the site along Essa Road. Regional access includes Highway 400 mere metres from the site, while Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is 15 minutes away and Toronto Pearson International Airport is within an hour’s drive.
Barrie has emerged as one of Ontario’s fastest-growing urban centres, attracting residents with its relative housing affordability, expanding job market, and strong recreational and cultural amenities. Over the past decade, new residential and mixed-use projects have reshaped corridors such as Essa Road, Bradford Street, and the downtown waterfront. The city continues to appeal to young professionals, commuters, and retirees.
KSV Restructuring Inc., acting as Court-appointed Receiver, is overseeing the sale process for the property. A stalking horse agreement with Aggregated Investments Inc. establishes the baseline bid, with the Receiver now seeking superior offers through a Court-supervised process. Access to additional due diligence materials will be available through the Receiver's virtual data room following execution of a non-disclosure agreement. All bids will be subject to Court approval.
Key milestones are approaching quickly. Letters of Intent must be submitted to the Receiver by October 13, 2025 (5:00 p.m. EST) and Qualified Bids must be submitted to the Receiver by October 28, 2025 (5:00 p.m. EST). Shortlisted bids will be identified by October 30, 2025, with an auction to be held in early November, if required, with a prospective closing date near end of November following Court approval.
More details are available on the Receiver's website here.
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