Predicted cost of pool/arena reconstruction project reaches $30 million

Last year, the City launched a renewal program for the arena, which included two full rinks, an enlarged swimming pool area, a teen centre, a community café, a multipurpose room and other facilities, all to be based on LEED-certified construction.

According to the plans, which were explained by architect Pierre Leclerc during city council’s monthly meeting last Monday night, entrances will be located on the east side, as well as along de Maisonneuve, Lansdowne and Ste. Catherine. After some initial doubts about have an underground parking lot, a decision has been taken to proceed with that aspect.

The City will be holding two information sessions, on Saturday, April 18 at noon, and on Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. The architects will be present and small focus groups will discuss and be consulted on the different aspects of the project. “We spoke at that time of a cost of approximately $25 million,” said Marks. “The program as outlined would come to about that. However, since then much work has been done analyzing the project, looking at the safety and accessibility, and a good case has been made for including underground parking, in addition to the available lot across the street. That and the upgrade of our LEEDs to a silver certification has brought the project to $30 million.”

Noting that some residents had expressed concern that the project was being moved forward quickly, Marks added, “The importance of moving efficiently now is, as you know, there is significant infrastructure money available. There is also fierce competition for these dollars. “In discussing with the minister this morning, I was told there is about $2 billion worth of requests and about $300 million worth of money at the moment. They are looking at trying and increase that amount. But we have no assurance we will get it, but we will do everything we can to make ourselves eligible to have an exciting green project to be silver LEED certified, to be shovel-ready, which is one of the criteria. That means we have to be far enough along that by the end of this program, which is about 16 months from now, we can be ready to start our project, start the digging.”

Marks said the city officials still intend to go ahead with a poll of residents on the project, but they are currently missing some of the information to do so, including the question of grants and private financing. A number of documents produced over the years in conjunction with the project will be made available to the public, although Marks said they will not be placed online because of their size and length.

In a significant new development, council has decided to postpone the mailing of a complete information kit to residents until after the consultation sessions have taken place. Marks said the purpose of the delay is “so that we can potentially integrate these potentially integrate ideas and changes.” However, subsequent to the package being sent out, a third public meeting will be held in mid to late May, after which polling will begin.

Answering questions from Claude Bismuth, an Upper Lansdowne resident, Marks acknowledged that grants from the federal and provincial governments will pay for only two-thirds of the $30 million cost. A third would be paid by Westmounters. “But it’s difficult for us at this point to tell you what it’s going to cost you, because we know that we’re looking at a facility of $30 million, but there are several pieces missing.”