Sudbury’s new convention and performance centre, art gallery and library will be built on the current site of the Sudbury Arena, not at the Rainbow Centre Mall, which also wanted to host the new facilities.

Council made the decision Tuesday night, after a recommendation by city staff, which preferred the site of the aging arena on Elgin Street because the city owns the building and also a large amount of surrounding property.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, city councillors asked for clarification from staff as to why the Rainbow Centre was not the choice. The answer was that it’s better to own than to lease.

"When you get to the end of the lease, you don't have anything. Whereas, if you build your own building, you get to the end of 25 years, you still have a building and all that residual value." said Ian Wood of the Greater Sudbury Economic Development Corporation.

Numbers suggest the difference between building at the city-owned arena and leasing space at the mall would be approximately 22 million dollars over 25 years.

So what will the convention and performance centre, art gallery and library look like?

"We don't know yet.  We’re open to all possibilities, so a portion of the building will of course be demolished, as we’re not going to keep it exactly as it is.  We will of course be building something new, but what that combination is, we will determine as we move through the process." said Wood.

John Caruso speaks for the Greater Sudbury Convention and Performance Centre and has some concerns about the timetable ahead, but says the new projects will be great for the local economy.

 "We're concerned that we're somehow connected to the result of the new arena process. If the new arena process snags and is delayed, then we will put up our hand and express a concern.  This building, a performing arts and convention centre, will be a game changer for the downtown. It’s going to create economic activity far beyond what an arena will." said Caruso.

Construction for the new project is set to start in 2020 when the new arena on the Kingsway is complete.  In the meantime, the city is preparing to hold public input sessions in early 2018 to help develop a design.