Council votes to reconsider plans for aging arena
It’s good to keep all the options on the table, Iveson says at meeting Tuesday
Edmonton’s support for new ice surfaces and a hockey centre of excellence in the old Coliseum seemed to unravel a bit Tuesday as council struggled with increased cost estimates and lack of coherent redevelopment vision for the land.
Council postponed its vote on a Hockey Canada memorandum of understanding, choosing to reconsider the issue after city officials can outline a larger plan for the entire 65-hectare Northlands site, a separate business plan for Northlands and the best options for providing amateur ice rinks.
“Everything has to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle,” said Ward 7 Coun. Tony Caterina, emphasizing the tremendous redevelopment potential of a site on the LRT line, just off Yellowhead Trail, beside Borden Park and near the river valley.
“If it doesn’t fit, what’s the point?” said Caterina, after Coun. Moe Banga said most hockey players don’t take the LRT anyway.
The Hockey Canada plan would convert the existing arena into four rinks and a hockey training centre of excellence. Hockey Canada would not put any money into the project.
City officials now say renovating such a large building could cost up to $150 million, more than simply demolishing it and building new, and cost 50 per cent more than the original estimates.
If it costs more to renovate than build new, Mayor Don Iveson said, it means a hockey centre of excellence and multiplex for amateur hockey could be built anywhere.
“It’s good to keep all the options on the table,” Iveson said. “Assuming (the Hockey Canada plan) is tied to this site and this building is premature.”
Underneath all the hockey talk, Edmonton is struggling with the spectre of a derelict Coliseum dragging down surrounding neighbourhoods. Several councillors said that’s the most important issue here: how to ensure this part of Edmonton thrives now that the Oilers play downtown.
City administration said council has a plan to shut down singlesheet neighbourhood arenas anyway. Those savings could be used to fund this plan. If Edmonton doesn’t build at least four sheets of ice at the Coliseum site, it will have to buy land elsewhere.
The broader neighbourhood redevelopment plan won’t be finished until the end of 2018, but city officials will report on their progress either late this summer or after the fall election. Northlands is scheduled to report to council on its new business plan June 27.
Coun. Bryan Anderson said not to let this project come ahead of plans of other communities.
“How long have we been working on the Coronation velodrome site?” he asked, pointing to a $100-million project in the works for a decade.