A landmark stretch of vacant land at 175–199 Essa Road and 50 Wood Street has come to market under a court-supervised process, presenting a rare chance to shape a large, mixed-use community at Barrie's western gateway.
The property spans approximately 55 acres in a high-profile location bordered by Essa Road to the south, Anne Street to the east, the rail tracks to the north, and Highway 400 to the west. The Barrie Curling Club is located at the southeast edge of the property.
Once home to the Barrie Fairgrounds, the site now sits at the nexus of major transportation routes, minutes from employment nodes (and a five-minute drive from Allandale Waterfront GO Station, which connects directly to Toronto’s Union Station).
Planning policies here contemplate significant intensification consistent with Barrie’s long-term growth objectives, and the city's vision for complete communities along the Essa/Bradford corridor.
Current zoning is General Commercial (C4) and Highway Industrial (HI), and the City’s policy framework supports a broad mix of residential and non-residential uses — from townhomes to mid- and high-rise apartments, retail and commercial, plus community and institutional space.
Materials filed with the City this spring outline a concept that contemplates roughly 3,185 to 3,234 homes overall, including 237–286 townhouses up to four storeys and approximately 2,948 condominium/apartment units across nine towers, with podiums up to 40 storeys.
A centrally located elementary school block of about 2.5 hectares (six acres) is also envisioned, weaving education and open space into the heart of the plan.
Prospective buyers may also pursue alternative mixed-use approaches tailored to market demand and municipal objectives.
KSV Advisory
Beyond policy, the proposition here is scale and connectivity. The site fronts a major arterial, sits less than a kilometre from Highway 400, is served by multiple Barrie Transit routes along Essa Road, and lies within quick reach of downtown and the city’s expanding waterfront trails and parks on Lake Simcoe.
For Barrie — one of Ontario’s fastest-growing urban centres — a 55-acre infill canvas of this profile doesn’t come along often.
Specs
- Address: 175–199 Essa Road through 50 Wood Street, Barrie
- Approved Use: Broad mix of residential and non-residential uses
- Bids: Must exceed $35,913,000
- Listed By: KSV Restructuring Inc.
The sale is being conducted by KSV Restructuring Inc., appointed receiver and manager of the property pursuant to an order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List). A stalking-horse agreement of purchase and sale sets a baseline purchase price, and the Receiver is seeking superior offers.
According to the sale materials, to qualify, a bid must include (among other criteria) a purchase price of at least $35,913,000, a cash deposit equal to at least 10% of the purchase price, and no financing or diligence conditions, with closing to follow promptly after court approval.
KSV Advisory
Key dates include an LOI deadline of October 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm EST, and a Qualified Bid deadline of October 28, 2025 at 5:00 pm EST. Offers are sought on an as-is, where-is basis, and are subject to court approval.
Interested parties will be required to execute an NDA for access to the Receiver’s virtual data room. To learn more, contact:
- Jordan Wong, Director: jwong@ksvadvisory.com | (416)-932-6025
- Dean Perlman, Senior Manager: dperlman@ksvadvisory.com | (437)-888-9842
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This article was produced in partnership with STOREYS Custom Studio.
