Historic build cont.
“In terms of economic influx into the community, that means buying two-by- fours, services, workers — you need hands on deck to build these things — there is the material itself, the labour, the professional help that you need, I think a lot of it will be local.”
“This would be the biggest project we’ve ever had.”
But it wouldn’t be the only project getting off the ground at the same time.
Some aldermen have gone as far as to privately predict that Medicine Hat could see up to $600 million in overall building permits and public works projects issued locally over 2012 and 2013.
That figure would include provincial highway projects, general building permits as part of a resurgent new housing market, the redevelopment of the Medicine Hat Regional hospital, and other public works projects.
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58 | 2013 REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA
Also included are commercial endeavors — a hot topic on the streets of Medicine Hat where residents are feeling uneasy about the speed at which the local economy is growing in relation to the rest of the province.
In late 2012, hotel chain Canalta filed development applications to build two 110-suite hotels on property across the proposed street, plus adjacent restaurant that could in total cost about $33.5 million to build.
Filling in the 600-acre site that borders on the east side of the Town of Redcliff has been a talked about goal of the City since the mid-1970s and even earlier.
“I think it’s the best site,” said Ald. John Hamill at the time of the decision. “It’s the best site for commercial development hands-down.”
The development argument was front and centre after council voted to break off talks with the Box Springs group and reopen the selection process.
The city looked at its own inventory of land, leading to a surprise proposal to redevelop the current arena site and part of the neighbouring Athletic Park baseball stadium as part of the downtown and Flats redevelopment initiatives.
A re-proposed plan by developer Lansdowne for a south-end location was also examined, as was a renewed bid by the Medicine Hat Stampede for a jointly operated building in the east-end.
A 6-2 majority of city councillors voted to restart talks with Box Springs with a new agreement reached on cost certainty and timeline guarantees.
The city’s consulting firm, MHPM, has recommended the arena have 5,500 fixed seats for hockey, but be easily convertible to 6,500 in the main seating bowl. Another 500 people could be accommodated in boxes and standing room, and floor seating for concerts would provide space for 1,000 more patrons.
That would mean night-in, night-out capacity of 6,000 for hockey and up to 8,000 for concerts.
In January, the city shortlisted three companies — PCL, Ventana and Stuart Olson Dominion — to create more extensive designs, and a final debate and discussion was expected in May.
In terms of funding, Council earmarked another $15 million towards the project in 2012, moving money from the Community Capital Reserve Fund into the dedicated Event Centre fund which now stands at about $41 million.
"At that stage, council will make the final decision," Corporate Services chair Wayne Craven told the News in mid December. "The people I talk to in the community are generally on board with the project but are worried a lot about debt."
With more than half the cost already dedicated, and at least two more years until the final bill would come due, the project could be paid for when the doors open in the autumn of 2015.
"Those who are opposed to the Event Centre will never support it whatever the cost," Ald. Graham Kelly, who is spearheading the project, told the News in December.
"Reasonable people, when they see this... will say that we've done our due diligence, that we've re-examined this, and that this is reasonable.” ■
41136660•03/26/13
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