Not building the multiplex has cost the City of Cambridge close to $500K
City staff now have to start from scratch to find an ideal location for the Cambridge multiplex
As Cambridge council recently voted to part ways with the Cambridge Centre Mall, councillor Frank Monteiro said it has cost the city "in the neighbourhood of half a million dollars" to not build the proposed sports multiplex.
Those costs include negotiations, consultants the city hired and other related expenses, Monteiro told CBC's Craig Norris on The Morning Edition.
Monteiro said staff learned costs for the project at the Cambridge Centre Mall were "through the roof" several months ago, while they were in negotiations with Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust, which owns the mall.
A plan to build the multiplex at the mall was approved by Cambridge council in Oct. 2017 after it parked the 2015 proposal to build the sports complex at Conestoga College, due to public outcry over the location.
Starting over
Now, city staff have to start the process of finding a location for the multiplex all over.
Staff are set to provide an information report to council on March 5, which will provide other affordable location options for where the multiplex could be built.
After that, staff have to do more public consultations to narrow down an ideal location.
Former Cambridge mayor, Doug Craig, said the initial location at Conestoga College was the best deal the city had to build the multiplex.
Conestoga College offered a 60-year lease for $2.5 million and construction of the entire multiplex would have been within the city's $80 million budget.
"There was no better deal," Craig told CBC K-W. "I think it's unfortunate that the city went on to look at other things."
Location, location
Past proposed locations, such as Pinebush and Conestoga College, are all back on the table, Monteiro said, including a location in southeast Galt.
He said the city owns 13 hectares in Galt, which would help with reducing costs. Cambridge Centre Mall and Conestoga College sites would be on on leased lands.
Craig said it's ironic that council is now looking at the southeast Galt property because it's just as far away from the core as the Conestoga College location, and distance was one of the main issues the community voiced.
"It's just as far away as Conestoga and probably not as accessible as Conestoga to major parts of the city," Craig said.
Still needed?
Monteiro believes Cambridge still needs the multiplex
"Even if we do it in two [locations]," he said. "But again that's up to the public to decide."