Downtown entertainment centre debated by Moncton councillors
Coun. Brian Hicks wants survey to determine how much taxpayers are willing to contribute to project
The debate over the future of a $107 million downtown entertainment centre in Moncton continued on Thursday as Coun. Brian Hicks and Coun. Blair Lawrence took questions during a phone-in on Information Morning Moncton.
Lawrence supports the centre and says to achieve a vibrant downtown the city has to be nurtured.
"It's really a project that is an investment. Certainly there's a cost, but there's an investment that would serve as a catalyst for growth in order that we can afford citizens what they can expect so it will generate all kinds of spin off," Lawrence said.
Hicks, who was originally in support of a downtown entertainment centre when it was first discussed in 2010, says without secured funding from the province or a major tenant agreement with the Moncton Wildcats hockey team, there is no way to move forward.
"Even at this late date, after six years there's all these unknowns we don't know. If anyone talks about an investment here, you'd better be able to talk about how do you measure that return," Hicks said.
Mark McCaw of Moncton called in and questioned putting an entertainment centre in the downtown core, arguing the Moncton Coliseum should be renovated because it makes more sense for people coming from out of town.
"If they build this thing downtown that's ridiculous, people aren't going to be able to get in and out of there. How do they think they're going to move 10,000 people and their vehicles in and out of town, let alone spend the probably $200 million or more that it'll be at the end of this because we know if it says $100 million it's always double."
McCaw says people simply don't have the money to pay taxes to fund this "pipe dream centre."
Hicks agreed with McCaw, saying there is a lot of opposition to a downtown centre in Moncton and that the Irving-owned Wildcats would be satisfied with some upgrades to the Coliseum.
"If you take say $27 million, and that would be a high figure, all Mr. Irving wants is to raise the roof a bit, put in a few boxes, that's basically what he wants."
Hicks suggests that if the City of Moncton partners with the federal and provincial governments on upgrading the Coliseum it could then take remaining money earmarked for the downtown centre and spend it elsewhere.
"That would leave $41 million to spend downtown into something that actually does bring economic benefit."
More debate needed
"We've never, as a council, even allowed people to talk about what other options are available," Hicks said.
Lawrence says everyone is entitled to an opinion about the downtown centre, but after seven years he believes it's been researched enough.
"There's always a reason to say no to something, it's always easier to say no but I would say … as a council I think that we are asked by the general public to make measured, judicious decisions that help the city grow," he said.
Agnes Byrne called in to ask whether any thought has been given to putting something other than a downtown centre on the old Highfield Square site.
"I was just wondering if anybody had ever considered turning that site in the centre of our city into a park, the way New York City did, they didn't do badly with Central Park."
Hicks agreed that council should give taxpayers the opportunity to discuss the future of the downtown.
"They just said it's the downtown centre or nothing and we need to have vision, we need to think of the bigger picture," Hicks said.
"Is the downtown centre the only avenue to go? I don't think it is and I would love to have this debate to see what other options are out there."
However Lawrence believes there has been enough debate and it is time to move forward with what he considers a "solid" economic and business proposition.
"I just think of the future, I have a 25-year-old son who is living in Ontario and who I think would probably like to come back but we have to take Moncton to that next step," he said. "I would bet you a nickel if we build this thing within a year Riverview will finally get its first hotel."
Hicks says with so many demands for funding, the city needs to conduct a survey of citizens and ask how much people would be willing to pay for a new centre.
"I think we need a taxpayers federation group in Moncton to counter the business people. Sure they want to make money but they're making it on the backs of taxpayers."