Northern Bruce Peninsula is going to look at approving a $17 million loan to fund the Lion’s Head Arena redevelopment project this week.
Council will look at approving the funding in addition to possibly directing staff to make an application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Stream and investigate other grant opportunities, as well as the development of a community fund raising campaign.
This is the latest in the redevelopment project of the Lion’s Head Community Centre after council awarded a $1.1 million contract for pre-construction and construction management services for the redevelopment.
Several renovations are planned at the arena and community centre, including creating six new dressing rooms accessible to the arena floor level, creating a new multi-purpose room suitable for community presentation and gatherings, creating a new branch library space for the Bruce County Library system, and renovating the existing washrooms/building new washrooms to improve the accessibility for people with disabilities.
At a recent special meeting on Jan. 17, Salter Pilon Architects, the prime consultant for the project, and Ball Construction, who was awarded the contract, presented design and cost considerations. The discussions from this will be continued at the upcoming meeting.
Council will consider three design options to move ahead with for the redevelopment project, one was presented to council early last year which includes a new library, fitness area, change rooms and a Friendship Club. Option two is a more compact design which includes key amenities like a fitness room, library, washrooms and changerooms, and storage. The third option is a new build option and includes various amenities like additional office space for town hall operations, a library, a Friendship Club, a walking track, a gym, concession area, and larger parking area.
A nearly $5 million grant was approved from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), but to make use of the funding, the project must be substantially completed by the end of March in 2027.
If the municipality approves a $17 million loan for the project, they have projected they will pay it back semi-annually over 30 years.
A report from CAO Peggy Van Mierlo-West says, “following the selection of the preferred design option by council, the design process will be finalized by Salter Pilon and Ball Construction.”
Depending on the needed approvals, it is anticipated the construction will start as early as this summer, with it being substantially completed by 2026.
Council will consider this report during its meeting on Jan. 29 at 1 p.m.
