North Bay city council wants to move ahead with arena project with $52M limit
North Bay’s twin pad arena and community recreation facility is looking like it will be much different than its original design.
At its Tuesday night meeting, city council voted to move forward with the project but at a maximum budget of $52 million.
“I truly hope that this project will come to ‘shovels-in-the-ground’ sooner than later,” said Coun. Justine Mallah.
Council voted 8-2 to direct staff to issue a request for expression of interest for the construction of a new recreation centre by the Steve Omischl Sports Complex within the $52 million limit.
“That’s a little bit more palatable for folks. I mean that's the number we initially thought the project centre was,” said Mallah.
“I think that there will be some difficult decisions."
An ad hoc committee made up of councillors was created in August to discuss the project, including its location, cost, design and usage. The committee decided early on the current location at the sports complex will remain. The recommendation to move forward came from council’s own arena committee.
Tanya Vrebosch is one of two councillors voted against it, citing the lack of accessibility.
North Bay’s twin pad arena and community recreation facility is looking like it will be much different than its original design. (Supplied)
“By trying to cut the costs down and with some of the changes that we're doing -- whether it's intentional or unintentional -- they're reducing the level of accessibility,” Vrebosch said.
The city is hoping to build two ice pads that can seat 250 fans each, 12 change rooms that can fit up to 25 people, a 223-space parking lot with 10 accessible parking spaces and city bus drop-off area.
“This is not coming in at $52 million or under unless you want something that is substandard,” said Vrebosch.
“Why build something that you're going to need to fix or add onto later on?"
The arena project has seen its fair share of twists and turns. Three contractors submitted bids in June, but costs ballooned. The lowest tender came in at a $70 million price tag with the highest tender set at $82 million.
“We'll find out what the bids come back as and then there will be discussions around what are we looking for,” said Mallah.
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
As for timing, city staff say the expression of interest could go out to market by mid-October with a tender for the project possibly issued late this year.
But all of that need council’s approval.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.