It's been a long time coming, but the Bradford Community Centre could finally be getting a makeover. But when and how is still up for discussion.
In a Special Meeting of Committee of the Whole on Monday evening, Town Chief Administrative Officer Geoff McKnight presented an update of the Community Centre Master Plan, and asked for direction from council on how to proceed with the next steps.
McKnight noted that VG Architects were hired in 2017, to look at future uses of the Bradford Community Centre, the adjacent Bradford Curling Club, and the 18 acres of surrounding parkland and playing fields.
In August 2018, after months of public consultation and input, which identified a long list of "desired" amenities, council adopted a "preferred concept" for the site.
The plan proposed construction of a new Administration centre and multipurpose building that would house community services, a performing arts centre, a County of Simcoe affordable housing project, underground parking, sheltered space for a farmers' market, and both active and passive recreational uses.
The master plan also proposed the retention of the old Bradford Community Centre, but offered no suggestions for its renovation or future use. .
"I think it was a very ambitious plan but speaks to all kinds of different interests from our community," McKnight said - essentially a 'shopping list' of preferred uses and activities.
It also came with an ambitious price tag.
The total cost, to realize all of the plan, was estimated at $107.8 million.
The town tentatively moved forward with the project when, in the summer of 2019, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) was introduced, offering a grant of up to $50 million per project to support the construction of community infrastructure.
In October 2019, the town applied for a grant to help build the community hub portion of the plan, including the performing arts centre, a community hub, gym, business centre, town administration offices, and underground parking - works estimated at $103.8 million.
If the town had been successful in winning a $50 million grant, it would have been on the hook for over $53 million.
BWG did not get the grant.
An announcement in August 2020 "put a pin in that balloon," said McKnight. "The grant program, on the whole, was way, way over-subscribed. We weren't successful."
He added, "So now what do we do? I think the answer to that is to rethink" - and especially, review what should be done with the existing community centre building.
The Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre was built by volunteers, in the 1950s. To consider the reuse of the historic and important building, the town first needs to assess its condition, what upgrades may be needed, and the potential for expansion or reuse.
There is also a need to re-evaluate the need for community space, especially since the municipality is moving ahead with developing a new community hub at 177 Church St., councillors were told.
"A number of the social user services identified at 125 Simcoe can now be accommodated at 177 Church St., and we can start to strip away pieces from this build," McKnight said. "Now is the right time for that kind of assessment."
Instead of building a $17.8M theatre, the town should consider building "a council chamber that can be used as performing arts space," he suggested. "That was a big cost component that can be reduced considerably.... We can now benefit from sharing of space."
The $14.8 million budgeted for Community Space, and $14.6 million for Social Services space could be trimmed, along with a reduction in the proposed $16 million for underground parking for up to 250 vehicles.
"There's a need to relook and rethink," McKnight said, telling council that a "more realistic overall budget" would be $58 million, including $35 million for the new town hall, $15 million for redevelopment of the overall site, and $8 million for the council chamber/performing art centre.
In the meantime, some work is ongoing, he said.
An agreement with Simcoe County is in place, to use the southwest corner of the campus for an affordable housing project.
The town is also moving forward with rezoning of the campus lands to accommodate the proposed new uses and is completing its acquisition of properties along Simcoe Road. "One property left," said McKnight.
And although, without the ICIP grant, there is now a lack of funds to move the Bradford Curling Club as originally planned, "there can still be partnership opportunities" and ongoing discussions, he said.
One of the big questions is the future use of the Bradford Community Centre, as a potential events centre - as well as a final decision on use of the outdoor spaces. Since the original consultation, the town has heard from user groups opposed to eliminating the ball diamonds or soccer pitch.
"We need to finalize that, then come back to council with the cost estimates and finalized financing plan and how to break it into manageable pieces, and then move forward with our first pieces of the project," McKnight said.
Coun. Jonathan Scott called it a "fantastic report... an exciting plan."
"I am a huge champion of this project...It's part of the reason I ran for council," he said, noting that many residents in his ward want to make sure recreation in the area is improved and phased in with the construction.
"This is a game-changer for the revitalization of the downtown. It's a fantastic project that will revolutionize downtown Bradford," he said.
Deputy Mayor James Leduc noted that while it is important to ensure services are not duplicated, with the Church Street community hub now under consideration, the redevelopment of 125 Simcoe Road could be "a real community gem."
"There is no better time to invest in your community when it comes to the cost of doing it. Interest rates are low. It stimulates the economy," Leduc said. "This is something for our community to move forward. It's been a large gathering space for many years. I see this project as probably the #1 project, in the end, a stimulus recovery project we can work through."
"We're always telling people to redevelop in the downtown," noted Coun. Raj Sandhu, suggesting that it was time for the town to step up. "If we don't invest our dollars in our own downtown why should someone else do it?"
Sandhu added, " I am happy that this is a bit of a scale-down. I know we want to help everyone but we need to realize what our means are."
He also suggested that Simcoe County needs to "step up... It's the county's responsibility to provide social services, not ours.".
Coun. Ferragine reminisced about the many events that have been held at the old Bradford Community Centre. "I grew up in this area and I have a soft spot for the community centre," he said, suggesting that the new Town Administration Centre could be incorporated as part of the repurposing of the old building.
"It would be interesting to see what would come out of refurbishing this, rather than replacing that building," Ferragine said. "Putting in the town hall there, you're mixing the old with the new."
Mayor Rob Keffer warned that there is a need for a cost/benefit analysis, to determine what is feasible.
"That will be an interesting report. We're going to have to make tough decisions, possibly," the Mayor said. "It's a lot of work but I'm looking forward to moving forward with this project... This is exciting."
Council, sitting as committee of the whole, received the update and recommended that staff be directed to undertake a cost/benefit analysis for the renovation of the old Bradford Community Centre as an events centre and multipurpose facility, and revise the cost estimates for a scaled-down redevelopment project. Staff will report back to Council with options and estimates.
Coun. Gary Lamb declared a conflict of interest, as a shareholder and member of the Bradford Curling Club, and did not participate in the discussion or the vote.
