New condo set to Debut along Barrie waterfront
Debut, a new condominium, is coming soon to Barrie’s downtown waterfront, from artist and real estate developer Gary Silverberg.
Comprising two 33-storey towers, Debut is the first highrise condo in Barrie and Simcoe County.
At Debut’s base will be curated retail shops and a pedestrian arcade serving as the gateway to the waterfront, marina, farmer’s market and transit.
Debut’s location at Dunlop Street and Mary Street is steps from the lake, retail and restaurants. It is also close to Hwy. 400, the Allandale Waterfront GO Station, other shopping and dining options, Georgian College and more.
“The city is becoming very cool, with one of the best waterfronts,” says Silverberg. “Barrie wants a booming downtown core, and (the City) saw the logic in what we were proposing. Everything has been a collaboration.”
With 42 years of real estate experience, Silverberg understands how areas gentrify. He notes how shopping is shifting from big box stores, as Millennials look for more authentic retail.
“(Barrie) has cool retail and restaurants, and when retail starts to get cool and hip, it’s on its way,” says Silverberg. “I always believed there would be a swing away from Toronto, and Millennials would be coming to Barrie. It’s happening a lot faster than we thought.”
World-class architects (Oleson Worland Architects and Scott Shields Architects) and leading-edge designers (Johnson Chou) have created Debut with great attention to detail.
The building towers twist to maximize views of the waterfront, and offer an extensive selection of suites with state-of-the-art finishes, European kitchens and spa-inspired bathrooms. Flexible designs maximize space and allow for multiple uses.
The residences are expected to appeal to a wide range of buyers, from first-time buyers to downsizers.
Project marketing is from Mark Cohen, managing partner of The Condo Store, Toronto.
“The building is modelled after the lifestyle in a place like Whistler,” says Silverberg. “Instead of a mountain at your door, you have Lake Simcoe.”
Once completed, Brightwater (master plan designed by Giannone Petricone Associates and Urban Strategies) will offer 2,995 new residences through a mix of condos and townhomes, as well as 150 affordable housing units. Brightwater I and Brightwater II, both designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects (DSA), are part of the first phase of the project.
Brightwater I is a five-storey boutique building, with a modern village aesthetic that pays homage to the heritage charm of Port Credit. Standing at 14 storeys, Brightwater II will contrast its sister building with a series of balconies that create a facade that embodies the movement of water, featuring a modern white cladding. The building is tiered and continues to lower in height at its edges, with a base of two-storey townhouses that visually echo the character of the existing neighbourhood.
Both Brightwater I and II's interiors are designed by Truong Ly Design and were inspired by the interaction between light and water and Port Credit's history. Inside the lobbies, architectural wood structures mimic the movement of water, with details carved of natural stone native to the area. Amenities will include a co-working space that opens onto a landscaped terrace, a state-of-the-art fitness studio, entertaining spaces and more. Residents will also benefit from a series of smart home features including a virtual concierge, unlimited internet data, master lighting control, WiFi through amenity spaces, keyless entry, programmable thermostats, a community app and more.
At the centre of Brightwater I and Brightwater II will be a single-storey retail building designed by DSA, featuring a heavy-timber design. Together, all three buildings will be connected by an expansive outdoor Brightwater Village Square, a grand public space which will transform the pedestrian experience. Framed by beautiful trees and outdoor seating, it will provide the perfect setting for everything from farmers' markets to pop-up celebrations. The Square is just one aspect of the 18 acres of new greenspace coming to the community, including a new nine-plus acre waterfront park, walking and cycling promenades, pedestrian mews and public plazas.
A wide array of urban and community amenities is also on the way, with more than 300,000 sq. ft. of retail (including an LCBO and modern grocer as anchors, designed by Turner Fleischer architects), restaurants, office space, and a future new elementary school and proposed community centre.
Even before launching, Brightwater was nominated for a BILD Award for Best New Community Planned/Under Development, and it has already won the prestigious Award of Merit for Healthy Communities by the Canadian Institute of Planners, for a master plan that includes features such as the bioswale system it will introduce, one of the first in Canada. Designed by landscape architect Public Work, the bioswales are a resiliency feature to decrease stormwater runoff while simultaneously nourishing neighbourhood trees. Additional resiliency features will support the biodiversity in the area and contribute to a healthy shoreline, lake and river.
For more information about the new Brightwater master-planned community and to register, visit 
MARK COHEN is a founding partner of The Condo Store Marketing Systems, a firm specializing in the design, marketing and sales of condo and new home communities in and outside of the GTA.
