Saltfleet Community Centre ‘is shifting, moving’ at base

Structural concerns prompt sudden closure

Structural concerns have prompted the sudden closure of the city-owned Saltfleet Community Centre — home of the Stoney Creek Community Food Bank, Stoney Creek Historical Society reference library and archives, and other community groups at 605 Highway 8.

In a virtual announcement Wednesday, public works general manager Carlyle Khan said following a city-wide facilities assessment late last year, a consultant noticed some abnormal cracking in the building’s foundation on March 9.

“There were concerns about the foundation and the building envelope and how the building sits on the foundation,” Khan said. “There were some concerns that it is shifting; it is moving, which will eventually lead to it potentially slipping off the edge of the foundation.”

On Tuesday, Khan said the consultant confirmed the validity of their concerns and identified issues in the building’s central wing and the south side.

The city opted to close the building and consult with tenants to minimize disruptions to the community groups’ operations.

“We will be trying to have the asset in service as soon as possible or find an alternative for the tenants that use that asset,” Khan noted. He said repair cost estimates and timelines for reopening will be determined by a yet-to-be completed structural engineer’s report.

According to a 2017 Stoney Creek News article, the Saltfleet Community Centre was built in 1985 and operated as Alliance Church. The city purchased the building in 2010 at a cost of $3.2 million with the intention of demolishing the structure and creating a recreation centre. But that project never materialized.