City mulls millions to fix downtown arena, convention centre

City council appears ready to inject millions of dollars into Hamilton’s aging downtown arena and convention centre to stave off immediate safety concerns.

But there is no agreement yet on how much short-term cash taxpayers should spend on decades-old facilities that are also the subject of ambitious redevelopment proposals.

Councillors went behind closed doors Friday to discuss liability implications of crumbling brick outside the Hamilton Convention Centre as well as broken or unreliable escalators and elevators at FirstOntario Centre.

City facilities managers recommend spending $2 million to fix exterior walls next year on the convention centre and another $4.3 million replacing escalators and elevators at the former Copps Coliseum.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said council should explore long-term future options for the trio of aging downtown entertainment f acilities that also include Hamilton Place.

“But in the meantime, at a minimum, it’s got to be safe,” he said in a public session that followed the closed-door meeting. “We have to make sure we look after those liability issues and functionality issues.”

A public city report emphasizes there is no immediate danger to the public from f alling bricks at the convention centre — but it also advises immediate action to avoid “further structural deterioration and potential facility closure.”

Scott Warren, general manager for Spectra Venue Management, previously told The Spectator the FirstOntario Centre’s small elevators are becoming an accessibility challenge — particularly for a growing number of visitors i n large motorized wheelchairs.

Other councillors appeared to acknowledge the need to bump up spending in 2018 for the three buildings that together normally only get $800,000 a year in capital repairs.

“We need a stopgap solution, something that helps us bridge the gap while we work out the long-term plan,” said Coun. Sam Merulla, who wants the city to explore the feasibility of selling the prime downtown facility lands to a developer willing to rebuild a modern sports and entertainment “precinct.”

“The trick is to avoid spending on items that might be redundant in the long-term.”

Hamilton Bulldogs owner Michael Andlauer has also recently floated the idea of splitting the cost of a new OHL arena with the city, although no formal proposal is on the table.

A privately funded consulting report pitching a complete rebuild of the former coliseum was received coolly by councillors and set aside earlier this year.

Merulla’s motion won’t be considered by councillors until Dec. 1. The debate over how much to spend next year on the facilities will also come back to that budget meeting.

But some councillors hinted Friday they may not be ready to support the entire requested $6.3 million for shortterm repairs.

Coun. Terry Whitehead expressed skepticism at a consultant’s finding that the former coliseum’s escalators are completely unsalvageable.

“Fire those consultants and get another one,” he said, later adding “As someone who used to do a lot of backyard mechanics, I can tell you there are always things that are salvageable, that have lifetime components.”

Facilities head Rom D’Angelo said three sets of escalators in the building are already permanently shut down, while the other four work only sporadically. “The life cycle of these escalators is 20, possibly 25 years,” he said. “We’re at more than 30 now.”

Coun. Tom Jackson asked D’Angelo if he could have a “Plan B or C” ready for the next budget meeting in case council decides it cannot spare an extra $5 or $6 million.

The facilities director said fixing the exterior walls of the convention centre would be a “top priority.”

However, the city’s consulting report identified nearly $14 million in required repairs at both buildings combined that it ranked as “immediate actions” needed this year or next.

We need a stopgap solution, something that helps us bridge the gap... COUN. SAM MERULLA