$47M, $50M or $65M? Council may make decision on GTR community hub by end of next month

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Stratford city council may be getting closer to a decision on the long-awaited community hub portion of the Grand Trunk Renewal (GTR) project.

During the GTR’s second council workshop on Feb. 26, chief administrative officer (CAO) André Morin and guest speakers detailed options for council to consider regarding its keystone project. They examined constraints, costs, municipal capacity and decision sequencing, as well as the value of shared facilities.

Much of the discussion on the community hub surrounded a shared facility between the YMCA of Three Rivers and the Stratford Public Library – a well-established partnership model that has been a large part of the GTR conversation of recent years.

“Together the YMCA and the library can create space to provide a positive environment for young people,” said Krista Robinson, CEO of the local library, in her presentation. “After school, youth can transition easily between study space, sports programs, leadership activities or just a safe space to be themselves … We can reduce each of our capital and operating costs by working together. There could be shared program and meeting rooms, shared lobbies, washrooms, mechanical systems, joint custodial and maintenance staff and operations and a lower capital construction cost due to a single build.”

To that end, Morin presented three options and costs for a YMCA/library community hub.

The first (and most complex) option presented was to renovate and expand the current YMCA building on Downie Street, adding approximately 51,000 square feet of office space, pool additions, library space and childcare to create a near 70,000 square foot shared facility. That option would run the city back about $49.9 million.

The second option would be to build a new 100,000 square foot facility adjacent to the UWaterloo Stratford campus on St. Patrick Street for a total of $65.4 million. The third and cheapest option would be to build a 70,000 square foot facility in the same spot as the second option for $47.3 million.

As with all the costs presented that day, Morin reminded council that all costs were high-level estimates with some unknowns still in play. Per a question from Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach, he clarified that the operating costs will most likely be similar for all three, although the operational capacity of a renovated Y (option one) would be more limited than new builds.

Historically, the GTR community hub was thought to be located within the superstructure; however, after a presentation to the now-disbanded ad hoc committee, city consultant Svec Group spoke about the exorbitant costs associated with such a strategy, prompting council to endorse pursuing a community hub outside of the superstructure and elsewhere on the 18-acre site.

While Morin did not detail uses for the superstructure, he did list some “Class D” estimate costs for refurbishing the superstructure: $10.5 million for an open-air shell (50,000 square feet retained), $18 million for partial shelter (50,000 square feet retained), $39.7 million for a fully enclosed superstructure (75,000 square feet retained) and $49.3 million for a fully enclosed superstructure (100,000 square feet retained).

Over the last 17 years $29.3 million has been invested into the site by the city and its partners, excluding the adjoining transit hub on Downie Street. Most of that money came through debt and loan financing (a combined $26.8 million). As of the beginning of this year $3.2 million is available and uncommitted in the project’s reserve fund.

The next workshop is scheduled for April 9 at 2 p.m. and is intended to have delegations from the community, deeper financial analysis, potential revenue sources and review options for consideration.

The matter is expected to be before council after that meeting, likely at the end of the month.

To view the whole workshop in its entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWVBg7o9ABM.