Cambridge multiplex open house attendees focus on location

CAMBRIDGE — Residents came and went during the city’s first multiplex open house at Hespeler Memorial Arena on Thursday.

Dozens and dozens of them left sticky notes on display boards with suggestions like: “No to Conestoga, keep it in Cambridge,” “What’s the hurry?” and “Drop the whole idea.”

It’s just a sampling of what Cambridge residents want from the city’s massive and contentious multiplex project.

The open house hosted by the multiplex task force drew more than 100 residents on Thursday.

“It’s been going pretty well,” said task force chair Chris Smith.

“It got interrupted by the weather but it’s picking up again.”

The special task force was struck — made up of residents, council members and city staff — to come up with a set of criteria in determining the best spot for the multiplex.

It was a direct result of public outcry against the proposed Conestoga College site, south of Highway 401.

The location on leased land is not ideal to many of the people who came through the open house Thursday.

“I want the best facility for our city,” said Connie Foran.

“When it’s (the multiplex) centralized there’s pride, a sense of community behind it.”

Although the task force has not presented a clear list of

factors to consider yet, it did offer insight into what residents might want which is also one of the group’s tasks.

It presented the results of an online survey that has more than 1,400 responses so far.

According to the survey on Engage Cambridge, 70 per cent of respondents strongly agreed that the new facility should be accessible by public transit. Timing was another indicative factor. The city first touted the Conestoga College spot because it was shovel-ready, affordable and would mean the city would have a facility sooner rather than later.

But 62 per cent of the survey’s respondents said they strongly agreed with the statement that the timing of construction was not an issue, what matters most is the right location.

“It needs to be centrally located for all members of the public to access it,” Rande Keffer said.

As a resident who has taken a keen interest in the project and attends each task force meeting, she thinks the city should wait and take its time finding the right spot.

“We should not be fear-mongered into the deadline,” she added.

While a design for the facility was approved in May, council hopes to make a decision on location this fall.

Location is the sole reason this multimillion-dollar project has been riddled with controversy for more than a year.

The college spot has been criticized for being too close to Kitchener.

Others complained the city’s site selection process was not clear and transparent.

The task force will set a list of factors to consider and make a recommendation for a location to Cambridge council, who will make the ultimate decision.

“It (the recommendation) could be more than one location,” said Chris Smith, a resident who chairs the task force.

“This is a destination for Cambridge,” he added. “They (residents) want it to be a signature for Cambridge to be proud of.”