Demo, replacement on table for Park Community Centre

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This article was published 22/06/2022 (1346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After being condemned to demolition then saved by a push for renovation, Brandon City Council voted in favour of looking at the potential cost of tearing down and replacing the Park Community Centre Monday evening.

In 2019, city council voted to have the centre demolished and replaced with a green space, citing a Recreation and Community Facilities Master Plan that stated the city had too many community centres and that the total number of centres be trimmed to five.

Last July, city council held a spirited debate after which it was decided to cancel the proposed destruction of the centre and proceed with the renovation or replacement of the building.

The centre has been subject to capacity restrictions due to structural issues and other potential hazards.

As part of the resolution passed by council last year, city staff were supposed to issue a request for proposals for the redevelopment of the site.

That never happened and the centre returned to council’s agenda this April when city administration proposed that instead of issuing a request for proposals for the renovation or replacement of the building, it should just be for the removal and replacement of it.

The reason for the course change was an engineering report that administration had received saying it would not be cost effective to repair the long list of ailments at the current structure.

At that same meeting, members of the Park Community Centre’s board of directors were disappointed this course correction had been brought up without consulting them first.

After a lengthy discussion, council voted to table the matter for several weeks until city staff, councillors and board members could hold discussions and get on the same page.

At Monday’s meeting, director of parks and recreation Perry Roque said all parties are now on the same page: the best money value is to tear down and replace the building with a basic structure that can be upgraded over time depending on demand and use.

When the request for proposals is issued, it will ask contractors to develop plans for a building at least 2,500 square feet large that can hold events for up to 140 people.

If the new facility is well-used, consideration will be given to improving and expanding it in the future.

The new building will be supplied with a sound system, tables and chairs and kitchen appliances courtesy of the Park Community Centre’s board of directors.

During this latest round of debate on the issue, several councillors were frustrated that it has taken several years to come to a decision on the matter.

Coun. Glen Parker (Riverview) said he didn’t understand why the city went to the trouble of commissioning a report on community centres at a cost of more than $100,000 that said the city should reduce the number of community centres and maintain the rest when council changes its course shortly after because some residents are unhappy that they’re losing a gathering space.

Since the South End Community Centre has been torn down, he said, it should probably be that neighbourhood in which a new community centre is built.

Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria) said he didn’t have an issue with the process that got the city to this point and that building a new structure could provide the city with a blueprint on how to refresh or replace other community centres going forward.

Agreeing with Cullen was Coun. Jan Chaboyer (Green Acres), who said it was a shame that the south end facility was torn down but the process could lead to new opportunities for the city’s community centres.

As a member of the city’s age friendly committee, she said structures like community centres are increasingly important for people of all ages to enjoy events.

By comparison, Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre) said the idea that this will serve as a blueprint for future community centres is “ridiculous.”

“I don’t believe we’ll build another community centre in the next five years,” he said.

Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine) said that while indoor spaces are currently in high demand as people socialize after COVID-19 restrictions, he expects demand to level out again.

Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes) said he wouldn’t voice support or oppose until he saw some firm numbers for the price of the centre’s replacement.

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