Town of Newmarket, Pickering College arena deal nears

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 14, 2016
By Chris Simon

Financial plans for a municipally backed arena at Pickering College could be unveiled early next month.

Newmarket staff will likely present a capital and operating cost framework related to the proposed new arena, during a committee of the whole meeting Feb. 1.

The proposed arena would be built on school grounds and is expected to cost about $11.5-million to construct, according to preliminary floor and site plans, town community services commissioner Ian McDougall said in a report presented to the committee earlier this week.

However, a Pickering deal is just one piece of a larger puzzle that includes the potential sale of the Hollingsworth Arena to San Michael Homes Developments, which wants to purchase the site as part of a $130-million redevelopment project near the Davis and Patterson Road intersection. If the project is completed as planned, the arena and two privately owned properties would be redeveloped.

“I really believe this is a priority for the town and one we need to address with a little bit more fervour,” Councillor Christina Bisanz said.

“There’s a lot of valuable property on Davis Drive that really isn’t providing the town itself a whole lot of value, in terms of contributing what it could to the tax base and a real need for alternative and more affordable kinds of housing. Hopefully, we’re going to be providing the kind of incentives to finally build business opportunities and housing for the people who will work in those businesses.”

If negotiations with Pickering fail, the town could look at other options for a replacement arena at a council workshop in February. And staff will also consider incorporating a potential outdoor artificial ice surface “as part of indoor arena replacement scenarios”, if a deal with Pickering cannot be reached, according to McDougall’s report.

A professionally prepared project estimate has been established, McDougall said. In addition, staff from the town and Pickering have continued to have discussions and share operating financials. Considerable work on reviewing capital and operating costs has also been done. While significant advancements have occurred in terms of the financial discussions, staff is not in a position to make definitive recommendations until Pickering has had an opportunity to review the financials (this month).

“We anticipate within the next two weeks it will be known if we can arrive at a win-win capital and operating framework.”

Under a partnership agreement with Pickering, the school would likely use the ice during off-peak daytime hours — when Hollingsworth is typically closed. Meanwhile, the town would likely take control of the facility during the municipality’s prime demand periods on weekends and evenings.

San Michael hopes to begin construction on the redevelopment in March 2017.