Allandale Station (Barrie)

Barrie Ontario's Allandale Station is a historic and now unused train station and large property in the center of Barrie's downtown waterfront.

The station was built in 1904 by Richard Scruton, as a replacement to the first station (built in 1854) which burned down several years earlier. [Josephine Boos. Title: Allandale Station. Simcoe County Historical Association [http://calendar.county.simcoe.on.ca/partners/newteclib/history/database/0119_3.html] ] The location has been vacant for some time. Train service stopped in the80's. In 1996 the CNR lifted rails between Allandale and Longford.

ACDC

The Allandale Community Development Corporation or 'ACDC' (with City interests) purchased the buildings and adjacent 7 acres from CNR after train service discontinued in the 80's. [ [http://www.uer.ca/locations/show.asp?locid=20760 Urban Explorer] ] ACDC then sold to CHUM Ltd in 2000.

CHUM ownership

CHUM Ltd. purchased the 6.9 acres of land, including the station buildings for $1,050,000 in 2000. CHUM planned to restore the Allandale Station building as part of their plan to develop of a new broadcast centre on the site, though changed their plan in 2004. In 2007 CHUM agreed to sell the property to the City for the same amount CHUM originally paid. CHUM received a Charitable Donation Tax Receipt reflecting the increased value of the property since 2000 largely due to the restoration and site works completed by CHUM. [ [http://www.barrie.ca/Content.cfm?C=5253&SC=1&SCM=1&MI=1450&L1M=41 municipal press release] ]

Proposals

After a public proposal competition, a 19 Million dollar proposal from Barrie's YMCA has stirred interest. [Barrie Advance May_7_2008 [http://ybythebay.com/pdfs/YMCA_Advance_May_7_2008.pdf] ] [ [http://ybythebay.com/mediaroom.html YMCA proposal] ] as well as a Go Train/commercial development.

references

* [http://ybythebay.com/newsletter_2.html old pictures]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgOTdCbXPYM a youtube video]