Sudbury’s Junction East budget now projected at more than $98M
City council in Sudbury gave the Junction East project its approval at Tuesday night’s meeting the city said in a news release.
The community hub will include the city’s main library, art gallery and multi-cultural-folk arts association under one roof at a cost of $98.5 million.
The price tag has more than doubled since the original proposed cost of $46 million in 2016.
Recommendations for the conceptual design, business plan, operational model, and financial plan for the new cultural campus were approved, allowing for the detailed design and construction phases to proceed.
Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger called it an important milestone.
“We all know that we must continue to invest in ourselves, strategically renewing our aging facilities and rethink how municipal services will be delivered for years to come.”
“This facility will offer artistic and creative experiences to people of all ages in Greater Sudbury,” Bigger said.
Bigger said the decision to proceed with the project was well received by council.
“Yes, there were one or two councillors who consistently vote no to many of our council projects, but this is a very strong majority of council that voted in support of moving forward. It reflects the confidence I believe the public has in this project as well,” he said.
The building design was first presented to council in early May after almost 18 months of research by the city’s project team.
Patricia Meehan, the chair of the Sudbury Theatre Centre, said the STC is excited about the partnerships that will be formed to augment the programming that it can offer patrons, and its young artists participating in education programs.
“This project is a beacon to all those who live here, are considering a move here, or just coming to visit, that arts and culture in this community is alive and well,” Meehan said.
The city said staff will work on the necessary tender documents and drawings to issue a construction tender for the first quarter of next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Israel launches strikes on military targets in Iran, escalating Mideast wars
Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday on what it described as military targets in Iran in retaliation for a ballistic missile assault Oct. 1, officials said. There was no immediate information on damage in the Islamic Republic.
DEVELOPING Scotiabank confirms outage for mobile, online banking
Scotiabank has confirmed outages affecting mobile and online banking services, according to a statement published to its X account.
'I did everything I could': Canada Post driver recounts helping save woman from fiery Tesla crash
Canada Post driver Rick Harper recounts how he and others helped save a woman from a Tesla that caught fire after crashing into a guardrail on Lake Shore Boulevard.
An abrupt goodbye to a guerilla goldfish aquarium beneath a leaky Brooklyn fire hydrant
A makeshift aquarium that popped up this summer in a puddle beneath a leaky fire hydrant in New York City has been paved over, to the dismay of neighbours who turned the area into a hangout spot and goldfish shrine.
Climate change breaks heat records across Canada this summer
Human-caused climate change made almost all of Canada’s heat waves hotter and more likely, Environment and Climate Change Canada said in an announcement Friday.
Mother who beat and starved her 5-year-old son to death sentenced to over 50 years in prison
A New Hampshire woman was sentenced Friday to 53 years to life in prison in the death of her 5-year-old son, who was beaten, starved and exposed to drugs before his 19-pound body was found buried in a Massachusetts park in 2021.
'Get away from your inner circle': Liberal MP 'shocked' PM didn't take more time to reflect on calls to resign
Longtime Liberal MP Wayne Long says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should give more weight to the views of his backbenchers in determining his future leading the Party, rather than relying on those in his immediate orbit.
Mom and child jumped from a window to escape a Las Vegas fire that killed 2 children and 2 adults
Two adults and two children were found dead in the charred rubble of a house fire after a mother and another child jumped from a third-floor window to escape flames in a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood, authorities said.
Russian actors made fake video depicting mail-in ballots for Trump being destroyed, FBI says
Russian actors made a widely circulated video falsely depicting mail-in ballots for Donald Trump being destroyed in Pennsylvania, U.S. officials said Friday.