City takes another step forward to buy Scotiabank Data Centre for police, expected to cost $26M all-in

10 and 52 Wright Boulevard, the former Scotiabank data centre, may be Stratford’s next police headquarters, as council and staff continue to consider it as the most cost-effective solution to the service’s space.

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a few months and change of preliminary investigation, the City of Stratford is nearing a final decision on the purchase of the former Scotiabank Data Centre located at 10 and 52 Wright Blvd.

As chief administrative officer (CAO) André Morin said during the Stratford city council meeting on May 11, the building is a unique opportunity but it is still just one option of many.

“We looked at the building,” Morin explained. “Staff have looked at that building. It brings a unique opportunity that may be able to save the city some funds.”

Morin estimated the all-in cost for the data centre to be $26 million, which includes the purchase price and renovation costs. It will be funded primarily through a combination of debt, reserve funds and development charges – as well as revenue from the potential disposition of municipal properties, such as the sale of the current police headquarters at 17 George St.

Through the George Street location and a leased satellite office at 789 Erie St., the Stratford Police Service utilizes 26,258 square feet of space – though a space needs study estimates police need a total of 55,200 square feet for its current scope.

The data centre is 100,625 square feet. Morin confirmed that 17,000 could be leased to the provincial courts, which is what representatives from the courts estimated would be desirable. The rest of the space could be housed by other municipal departments, services and shared spaces, creating efficiencies that could bear cost-savings. As a significantly larger building, the upkeep costs are higher, however it being a much newer building and the fact they would stop leasing 789 Erie St. means the city could save $26,277 a year in operating costs.

Aside from purchasing a new building like the data centre, there are a few other options for the city. According to Morin’s report, building a new facility could cost $49-$55 million. Renovating the George Street headquarters and constructing a new build on the grounds to meet police needs could cost $35-$40 million. As noted in Morin's report, purchasing the data centre is the most cost-effective solution apparent to the city at present.

“We need to provide a space for (police) that meets their needs so they can serve the community to the best of their ability,” Coun. Lesley Biehn said. “And the way that all of these numbers are working out, if you look at Wright Boulevard, not only would we be meeting their needs so that they can serve us better, but we would also be saving the taxpayer $15-$20 million in the process of doing that. And so in my opinion, it's just a win-win. I don't see a downside to this.”

“We do have a strongly vibrant downtown, and I think the key is to not self-inflict harm to our vibrant downtown,” Coun. Cody Sebben pointed out. “… If the police headquarters do move in that location … I think it would be hard pressed to find occupants or tenants of that location that will have as much foot traffic and economic activity coming from that location, whether it's officers, employees and people utilizing the courts and the space.”

Local architect Robert Ritz, who has advocated for police to occupy the current Y on Downie Street, again delegated at council, entreating members to investigate the location fulsomely before moving forward with purchasing the data centre. Most councillors were skeptical, especially since Morin estimated the cost to properly investigate the location would cost an additional $36,000.

“The major focus of council's priorities for this term was the Grand Trunk renewal,” Ritz said. “The police headquarters is not even on the list. The new police headquarters is not listed on the police 2026 capital budget, agreed, but police do need to be under one roof in a state-of-the-art building with wildly sudden urgency. Missing a market opportunity is not a valid reason for urgency.

“… Take a step back and before moving forward, conduct the required due diligence to make a comprehensive comparison between the 10 Wright building and the YMCA as the repurposed police headquarters,” Ritz urged.

“This has been a historical conversation,” Mayor Martin Ritsma said. “And that's why we are currently renting space that separates out our police services. It used to be on Downie (Street) and we outgrew that, and now we're on Erie. And so we have talked about this in my four terms on council. Coun. (Bonnie) Henderson would probably say in her five terms on council. So this is historical. There is a reason why we're talking about it today, and we have a 1963 building which is deficient in technology, accessibility and size, and at some point we have to make a decision and here's an opportunity for us to move something.

“We're not making a decision tonight with regards to whether it's an absolute, but it's another step forward, but I think it follows the path of concern that we've had since taking out additional space on Downie Street a number of years ago.”

After a closed meeting at the end of the open session that evening, council met again and directed Morin to negotiate “a portion of this matter” on behalf of the city. Staff will be completing its due diligence including confirmation of renovation costs, post-disaster structural assessment and verification of space requirements in the coming weeks.

A report covering the findings of the due diligence investigation and a detailed implementation plan will be presented and debated by council prior to any final purchasing commitment.