The wrecking ball has been stalled at Civic Arena, at least for now.
While city staff recommended pursuing the cost of demolishing Civic, council decided instead Monday to investigate the price of possibly converting the facility into a shell for community uses.
“We need to look at it in every possible way before we decide to possibly demolish it,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham.
Administration has been asked to pursue the cost estimates to turn the 1938 Civic into a basic structure that meets code and to look at what it would take to turn Civic into a cultural centre, a farmers market and a sports facility.
“That’s important information for the public to have (so an ultimate decision on Civic can be made,” said Mayor Akbal Mund.
City staff suggested Monday that it could cost between $8.2 and $11.6 million to repurpose Civic as a shell. But there would also be additional costs such as improving drainage on the site and creating parking as much of the existing parking lot would disappear for 29th Street extension.
“I understand there are significant costs in repurposing but I don’t have a comfort level in how accurate they are,” said Cunningham.
The original recommendation from staff was that the portion of the 3.5-acre site not needed for the road should be converted into park as a way of encouraging residential development downtown.
It was also pointed out that the integrity of the arena foundation is not known and there are 12-inch cracks going through some of the walls. The plumbing is also in poor condition.
“The floor is moving and the perimeter walls are moving. That movement needs to be addressed,” said Cleo Corbett, long-range planning manager.
The concrete floor may need to be jack-hammered out and replaced.
“We can’t use this floor for dry land activities,” said Doug Ross, recreation manager.
Civic will no longer be needed for hockey once the expansion of Kal Tire Place is completed.