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Aquatics, fitness and multi-use phase of Northside facility on chopping block

(PHOTO: Concept drawings of the planned Northside Multi-Use Facility. Committee will consider cancelling Phase 2. PROVIDED. RMWB.ca)

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Sustainable Development Committee members will consider a recommendation from RMWB administration that the second phase of the Northside Multi-Use Facility be cancelled and removed from the 2017 capital project list.

That would mean the parking lot and twin arenas portion of the project would go ahead but the recreation centre would not.

Phase 1 is made up of an arena, leasing space, a washroom, circulation and facility support as well as a parking lot to complement the facility. Phase 2 consists of an aquatics facility, fitness centre, the base of an arena, a bowling alley, a multi-use facility, a library branch, child minding, a skate park, a lease space, food services, retail, administrative space and a space for maintenance.

The two approved capital budgets include $13.5M for Phase 1 and Phase 2 design as well $34.5 M for Phase 1 construction, which was approved in 2015. The construction portion of Phase 2 is unfunded and no official approval or timeline has been given other than that it could be done in 2017.

Staff said the recommendation for cancelling Phase 2 came after meetings with consulting firm Architecture Tkalcic Bengert (ATB), which is handling the design of the projects, in which ATB raised concerns about developing Phase 1 and Phase 2 independently of each other.

ATB said because they don’t know when Phase 2 will be approved, if at all, there are delays for the construction of Phase 1. Administration said that is having significant financial and operational ramifications.

Staff argue that because of the current economic situation and the uncertainty over the timing of Phase 2 it “would be prudent” to cancel the second phase of the project.

Administration also cited the fact population growth projections have changed and there won’t be enough people moving into the community to justify the project. Staff also said the design is only 30 per cent complete.

Administration is recommending cancelling the project so that all contracts and commitments to Phase 2 of the Northside Multi-Use Facility would be severed as they stand now. If and when Phase 2 is ever brought forward for future consideration, its design and integration to Phase 1 can be explored once again, administration argues.

The meeting of the Sustainable Development Committee is at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The link to the agenda for the meeting is online.