1947 replies to this topic

[aastra]

 

City of Victoria might be able to learn something from Richmond?

 

Learn how to live without a 50m pool, you mean? Like saps? Like barbarians? Like barbaric saps? (or, if you prefer, like sappy barbarians)

 

Minoru was mentioned in this thread back in March of 2018:

 

 

More fuel for the never-ending debate re: the ideal length for a new aquatic centre's main pool: the large pool at Richmond's new Minoru centre will be just 25m. And for $80 million (largest public expenditure in Richmond's history). Kind of an odd configuration, they'll have an 8-lane 25m pool and a 6-lane 25m pool, but the pools will be side by side rather than connected.

 

The following quote is from a news story entitled "Delayed Minoru pool and seniors' centre promises to be iconic":

 

 

When the facility's plans were first announced, many residents had expressed a desire for a larger, 50-metre pool. However, the extra cost for the bigger pool — $8 million — was considered prohibitive by Richmond city council.

Edited by aastra, 30 January 2019 - 04:42 PM.

[North Shore]

$8M??  MAybe they should change the name to 'Poormond'!

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Victoria will lose $6 million in federal-provincial funding for the new Crystal Pool and Wellness Centre.


https://www.vicnews....w-crystal-pool/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 February 2019 - 01:20 PM.

[Nparker]

The City of Victoria will lose $6 million in federal-provincial funding for the new Crystal Pool and Wellness Centre...

Well that was pretty much a given.

[Mike K.]

Will this be the end of the road for this project?

 

There is still $1 million from Canadian Tire that was pledged.

[Mike K.]

Could the project, in fact, have been derailed by the refusal to hold a referendum?

 

The writing was on the wall last June when Minister Selina Robinson questioned the City's pursuit of the project without a clear directive from taxpayers.

 

Robinson also questioned whether the City of Victoria’s decision not to put the Crystal Pool replacement issue before the electorate was a wise one.

"[Mayor Helps,] you have indicated that the City has no plans to initiate a referendum on external borrowing. While the City has the authority to make such a decision, large-scale projects that demonstrate both public and financial support through a referendum (or some form of public approval process) are identified as lower risk under the program assessment.” - https://victoria.cit...-funding-radar/

 

[Nparker]

Will this be the end of the road for this project?...

Could the project, in fact, have been derailed by the refusal to hold a referendum?...

It sure as hell cannot proceed now without a referendum.

[Victoria Watcher]

they have secured $1 million not spent on a police budget increase.

[Nparker]

they have secured $1 million not spent on a police budget increase.

All of which will probably go to hiring the new "traffic calming" staff and additional bike lane implementation staff.

[Mike K.]

To be fair, the bike lane-related staffing increase is expected to be paid for by DCC's.

[Bob Fugger]

To be fair, the bike lane-related staffing increase is expected to be paid for by DCC's.

 

Of which you would need fewer, theoretically making housing more affordable; or, you have to factor the opportunity cost of other projects that will go with less funding.

[spanky123]

Could the project, in fact, have been derailed by the refusal to hold a referendum?

 

The writing was on the wall last June when Minister Selina Robinson questioned the City's pursuit of the project without a clear directive from taxpayers.

 

They will cut a secret deal with RG just like they did for the firehall (with Dalmation). You will find out about it after the fact!

Edited by spanky123, 19 February 2019 - 05:53 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

if they are going to have rg build and operate it that might be an excellent deal.

but seriously the issue here is how to fund it without a referendum. or counterpetition.

[spanky123]

if they are going to have rg build and operate it that might be an excellent deal.

but seriously the issue here is how to fund it without a referendum. or counterpetition.

 

Again same way they did the firehall, take the money from reserves and promise to pay it back!

 

What they may also look at doing is playing the the existing fees, taxes and ownership of the arena and then paying RG a big operating fee. 

[Victoria Watcher]

In November, council instructed staff to revisit location plans for the $70-million pool project with the idea of possibly building the replacement at a site other than the originally favoured one in Central Park, adjacent to the existing building.

Staff have met with RG Properties about the feasibility of building the replacement pool on the parking lot adjacent to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. RG Properties operates the 7,006-seat facility, which is owned by the City of Victoria.

Staff were also directed to complete design development for the original site plan.

The North Park Neighbourhood Association, worried about the loss of green space and diminished enjoyment of Central Park, has identified the arena parking lot as its preferred site for a new Crystal Pool.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ants-1.23639252

[sebberry]

So, someone was worried about the loss of green space so we lose out on $6M.  I already demonstrated in an earlier post that we could build the new facility next to the existing, increase parking thereby decreasing reliance on neighborhood streets and add in additional green space when the old building is torn down.  

 

Council ideologues so badly want to stick it to the driver that they'll happily forgo the $6M to relocate the pool to a parking lot.  

[Bob Fugger]

Council ideologues so badly want to stick it to the driver that they'll happily forgo the $6M to relocate the pool to a parking lot.  

 

While porkily digging their snouts in at the gas tax trough. #irony

[On the Level]

You have to add the $2M they have already blown to the $6M lost this week.  The COV taking on an infrastructure project always turns into a disaster.

[aastra]

Speaking of Richmond, BC's new pool:

 

In March, 2018 we said:

 

 

Richmond’s new pool and seniors’ centre — the Minoru Centre for Active Living — will open to the public as late as fall of this year (2018), after initially being scheduled for opening in June, 2017.

The year-plus-long delay is attributed to poor winter weather and a labour shortage, according to City of Richmond spokesperson...

 

In February, 2019, we said:

 

 

The $80-million recreational hub, seniors centre, and events centre were scheduled to fully open on March 11 (2019), but the City of Richmond announced yesterday the aquatic facilities portion of the facility will not open in time due to structural issues...

According to the municipal government, it was discovered during the commissioning work of filling the six swimming pools with water that the concrete base had shifted on one of the pools.

 

Don't quote me but I think this would be the third time in this thread that we've seen issues with a brand new aquatic centre (in Canada)? I can't remember for sure.

Edited by aastra, 13 March 2019 - 10:41 AM.

[Nparker]

I'd like to say the CoV will learn from Richmond's mistakes, but...