Demolition of Newmarket's Hollingsworth Arena to begin second week of December

Meeting to consider rezoning adjacent lands for 15-storey towers on Dec. 7

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 7, 2020
Lisa Queen

It’s time to start saying your goodbyes to Newmarket’s Hollingsworth Arena and prepare yourself for new development on the site.

Starting the second week of December, preliminary work will begin on demolishing the arena at 35 Patterson St. just north of Davis Drive, Peter Noehammer, the town’s commissioner of development and infrastructure services, said.

The demolition, being carried out by Salandria Ltd., is expected to last until next spring, he said.

During this time, access to the parking lot will not be available.

The demolition work is scheduled to take place Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some work on Saturdays may take place as required.

After considering the age of the arena, decreased use by the community and the funding required to repair and keep the building operational, council decided in April 2019 to decommission the facility.

Built in 1972, the arena was named after Frank Hollingsworth a long-time public-school teacher and volunteer sports organizer.

Before it was decommissioned, the arena was home to the Newmarket Minor Hockey Association.

“The Hollingsworth Arena has provided many fond memories for Newmarket residents. I played hockey there over 40 years ago and my son played there just last year,” Mayor John Taylor said.

“The decision to decommission the building was not made lightly. This fiscally responsible decision will give us the opportunity to redevelop an enhanced public space from what currently exists which will benefit the residents greatly. These decisions were laid out in council’s strategic priorities, the Recreation Playbook, the Cultural Master Plan and the Urban Centres Secondary Plan and are a continued part of the redevelopment of Davis Drive and the improvement of park spaces in Newmarket.”

A public meeting will be held at a later date for residents to provide their feedback on future plans for 2.14 acres of land retained by the town on the arena site, Noehammer said.

In May 2019, council voted to preserve the 2.14 acres for community use.

Council also sold a portion of the property to a developer.

On Dec. 7, councillors will consider a proposal by Briarwood Development to rezone land at 693 and 713 Davis Dr. for two 15-storey residential towers linked by a three-storey podium with two underground levels of parking, commercial space fronting on to Davis, 375 parking spots and 212 bicycle parking spaces.