Everyone’s idea of the perfect place to live differs. When setting out to determine the best areas to live in the Barrie area the challenge became how to determine what is best and how does one person’s best relate to another’s. Good Life spoke with a variety of real estate agents and while opinion kept returning to a number of specific areas, the only real conclusions drawn from the data were that the number of great places to live in Barrie is limited only by the tastes of the people who choose to live here.
Waterview
While ideally all water people would like to live next to the water, many Barrie resident are just as happy with something equally stunning – a water view.
“I love the open feel,” said Philippa Campbell, who lives on the ridge on the north side of Kempenfelt Bay. “That’s the best thing.”
And while not necessarily able to touch the water from her door step she still feels a connection.
“It’s calm and peaceful. I especially like it in the winter at night when all the lights from downtown reflect off the water.”
Like all things in life that view comes with a cost.
“People will pay a lot of money for a view [of the lake],” said David Weeks of Prudential LeClair. “How do you price a view?”
Both the north and south side of the Bay offer outstanding views and while it may cost a little more for many people it’s worth it.
Acreages in Oro/Medonte and Innisfil
Not everyone wants the hustle and bustle of city life and for those seeking a quieter existence, larger properties in Oro-Medonte and Innisfil can provide the space that many people seek for a sense of calm.
“It’s very peaceful,” said Michele McConney who lives on an acre of land in Oro-Medonte and rents 76 acres to a local farmer. “Our closest neighbour is a half kilometer away.”
When McConney initially moved out of Barrie is took half a year for her and her family to get used to not being able to walk to the corner store but now adjusted, they’d never go back.
They have access to snowshoeing, four wheeling, snowmobiling and walks in the forest all outside their back door. And in between crops they practice their golf swings out in the fields.
Cummings Drive
On the west side of the city exist two adjacent areas named by more than one agent as a sought out place to live. Separated by a conservation area, both Cummings Drive on the ridge, and the neighbourhood below it that borders Ardagh Road were chosen for the newer, custom built homes and access to the local trails.
“A lot of the lots back onto the conservation area,” said Ed Tracy of Remax Chay Realty. “There’s great access to the trails and wildlife.”
What the neighbourhoods are also about is convenience. Both St. Joan of Arc high school and elementary schools are close by, access to the highway 400 is provided straight down Ardagh, and the area is close to the Holly Recreation Centre.
“It’s convenience to walk to the drug store and there’s a grocery store at the other end (of Cummings Drive),” said Tom and Janette Pursehouse who moved to the street from Whitby to be closer to their grandchildren. “There’s a play area for the grandkids when they visit and a treed area. We’re really happy here.”
Lakeside Condos
The condominiums that line the bottom of Kempenfelt Bay at Centennial Beach bring urban waterfront living to Barrie. Within easy walking distance of downtown, access to the walking path that runs around Kempenelt Bay and living space with a view of the water, it’s no wonder the residents love it.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Melvin Loppie, a resident who walks to work in twenty minutes. “It’s calm and laid back.”
Loppie rarely takes his car anywhere and loves the summer time with everyone out on the boardwalk. Along with the great urban lifestyle, he says he’s also found something equally as important: great neighbours.
“Each building is a community in itself,” said Mary Bateman of Remax Chay Realty. “It attracts everyone: empty nesters, young professionals, and seniors.”
Old East-End Barrie
Old East-End Barrie provides some of the most dramatic topographical changes within the city limits.
“Ridge Road (to Shanty Bay) is named for a reason,” said John Lawler of Min Com Pro Realty. “This ridge draws people who like a view.”
The topography also provides variety to residents whether they live above or below the ridge. “It adds another dimension,” said Lawler
Codrington Street extends along the top of the ridge on the north side of the lake and provides spectacular views of the Bay year round. The larger lots with mature century-old trees also provide the sense of permanence that comes with older neighbourhoods. Within walking distance of downtown and with great access to the walking trails along the water, there is little that the East-End doesn’t offer.
“This is arguably one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Barrie,” said Todd Guergis of Royal LePage.
Midhurst
The community of Midhurst, situated at the top end of St. Vincent Street at the north end of Barrie provides a unique stand-alone community in Barrie. Started originally in the 1800’s, Midhurst is a mere five minute drive from Barrie but its larger lots with 70 year old pines maintain the feel of its small village roots.
“When you go home you feel as if you’re getting out of the city,” said Midhurst resident Gavin Steciuk. “It has the small town appeal but with the close proximity of a larger city.”
The small town appeal includes an historic general store, a public school within biking distance, and several community churches.
“It’s a little hamlet,” said John Lawler of Min Com Pro Realty. “Which lends an emotional demention to some areas. What street people choose depends on their value system.”
Tollendale
The south side of the lake provides as much attraction to Barrie residents as the north. Tollendale Road which winds through forested lots and with great access to the water through Tyndale park has much to offer.
“Nothing can compare to this,” said Jurgen Heller, who lives close to Tollendale. “We wanted to have some space and this little space is perfect.”
Heller’s house backs onto a dense forest and with an extensive back yard has plenty of room for ice rinks in winter and a trampoline in the summer time.
The area is also an easy five minute drive to most amenities, a school is within walking distance for the kids and the lake is an arms length away.
“That area is very much about location,” said Fiona Hughes of Flat Fee Realty. “It is convenient to everything.”
Old Sunnidale
As one of the more established areas in Barrie, the Old Sunnidale area situated adjacent to the large city park, has long offered residents a convenient and spectacular piece of the city’s real-estate.
“It’s completely different than any other area,” said Todd Guergis of Royal LePage. “It has older houses that people will fix up and large treed lots.”
Along with the beauty of the older neighbourhood that wraps itself on meandering streets around the hill, it offers proximity to Sunnidale park with trails for both summer and winter use as well as being close to the convenience of Bayfield street.
“I like the proximity to Sunnidale [park],” said Bruce Elliot who has lived in the area for twenty years. “And the proximity to downtown.” All the amenities of downtown are less than a five minute drive away.
South East Barrie
At the farthest south-east corner of the city is a neighbourhood of stylish Cape Cod style houses that many Barrie residents may not know exists. Situated off of Mapleview Drive east of Yonge Street, the area that centres around Prince William Way has more than one fan singing its praises.
“I love these homes,” said resident Jessica Weening. “And the people are extremely friendly.” The area was designed with narrower streets and wider lots to foster a sense of community.
Among the amenities that appeal to Weening is the large park at the end of her street, a pond that doubles as a skating rink in winter, and nature trails that run from the park. Like most areas in Barrie it offers its fair share of convenience depending on how you like to spend your time. It’s close to the water with access to boat slips, has good access to highway 400 and is less than five minutes from the GO station.
Weening and her family have to move for work reasons but she doesn’t want to be gone for long. “We have to move but we’ll be coming right back.”
