The proposed $200-million facility ran into funding trouble after the province changed the rules on how developers pay for new amenities
Burnaby council has abandoned its plan for a $200-million community centre in the city’s northwest after staff advised the project couldn’t be paid for under new provincial rules about how developers pay for public amenities.
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Construction on the proposed facility at Confederation Park was slated to start last fall but was halted last summer after council asked city staff to look at ways to scale it back.
Coun. Pietro Calendino said he was disappointed that council was dropping the project after spending $20 million on design and requests for proposals. He said he’s heard from residents who think the centre could have been scaled back and delivered for much less money to provide services to the neighbourhood.
“All the people are asking is, ‘Give us a gym, give us a fitness centre, because what’s there is inadequate … and give us a couple of programming rooms.’”
Staff said scrapping the project will allow the city to look at the distribution of community recreation spaces in all parts of the city, including fast-growing Brentwood Town Centre.
Staff made it clear the city was only abandoning its current contracts, not the overall idea of a facility upgrade at the park . It said funding uncertainty made continuing those contracts untenable, but that many of the concepts and ideas for the park can remain on the books.
A second option to scale the community centre back at a cost of about $160 million was rejected, as staff said even that would have required borrowing money.
The vote to abandon the project was not unanimous, with Calendino and Coun. James Wang opposed.
Council approved Mayor Mike Hurley’s followup motion asking staff to report on the appropriate scope and timing of a future Confederation Park Community Centre.