County to build regional services hub in Orillia

News release from county of Simcoe

The County of Simcoe has completed a land acquisition agreement with Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) to purchase the closed Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute (ODCVI) property for development of a future regional services hub.

Open Houses related to the project and future uses on the site will be held in 2019, in which the County will be seeking input on the design, amenities and potential community services to be offered at the site. Construction timelines, building design and services to be offered on the site will be determined through community needs and after public input is received.

Demolition of the aged buildings will commence immediately for public safety reasons. Investigation into the viability of utilizing or re-purposing the older infrastructure revealed that this option was not prudent or cost effective. The County and SCDSB have made arrangements to protect the existing student memorial arboretum on the property and the County will incorporate this area into future designs. The County is also working closely with the City of Orillia to complete the permit processes and future planning.

This project aligns with the County’s Strategic Asset Management Plan, 10-Year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy, and the Simcoe County Positive Aging Strategy. It remains prudent to identify multi-benefit projects that align with the County’s long-term goals and objectives, and meet the growing service demands in the areas of affordable housing, long term care, paramedic services and other community service needs, including a positive aging framework. Recent County capital investments in these areas include:

2010 – Development of a Joint Emergency Services Centre in Stayner
2011 – Redevelopment of a Bradford social and affordable housing complex
2013 – Redevelopment of Georgian Village
2016 – Development of the Alliston Paramedic Services Station
2016 – Development of the Beeton Paramedic Services Station
2016 – Redevelopment of Barrie social and affordable housing complex
2017 – Development of the Orillia Paramedic Services Station
Underway – Partnership with the City of Barrie to develop the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Operations Centre
Underway – Development of the Collingwood Paramedic Services Station
Underway – Development of an affordable housing complex in Collingwood
Underway – Development of an affordable housing complex in Wasaga Beech
Underway – Redevelopment of Barr’s Motel in Barrie for affordable housing
Underway – Development of an affordable housing complex in Tay Township
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.

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Quotes

“County Council continues to make critical investments in our communities to ensure we can meet the current and future service demands and social infrastructure requirements of our growing region,” said Deputy Warden Terry Dowdall.

“Orillia Council is excited to see our longstanding partner, the County of Simcoe, take ownership of this important piece of property in Orillia. Further, I commend the County for protecting the student memorial arboretum. We look forward to seeing the County’s final development plans for the site following the public consultation process in 2019,” said City of Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke.

“We look forward to working with both the City of Orillia and our residents to redevelop this property into a community service hub that could address multiple areas of need in Orillia and the surrounding Townships, greatly benefitting residents for generations to come,” said Mark Aitken, Chief Administrative Officer, County of Simcoe.