The Castlegar & District Recreation Commission held an open house Tuesday night to give residents a look at potential improvements to the Castlegar & District Community Complex.
The meeting is just one step in what has already been a long process starting in the fall of 2014. In 2015 public input was sought and almost 800 area residents and 17 community groups responded to questionnaires. A draft plan was developed and public input was once again sought in late 2015. In January 2016 the RDCK adopted a Recreation & Culture Master Plan for Castlegar and Areas I and J.
The resulting plan prepared by HCMA Architecture + Design offers up seven different options for improvements. Residents are asked to have a look at the options and then rate them based on what level of priority they think each project should have — short term (done in less that five years), mid term (done in five to 10 years) or long term (done more than 10 years from now). The results will then be compiled to determine which options, if any, residents would like to see move forward.
Attendees at the open house were given the opportunity to participate in small group, roundtable discussions to provide their reactions to the options and ask questions. Feedback forms were available at the meeting. For those who did not attend the meeting, plans and feedback forms are available on the Regional District of Central Kootenay website, rdck.ca, or at the Castlegar Community Complex.
How the projects will be paid for and whether or not that means a referendum vote, all depends on which combination of items are chosen and the final price tag. Short-term borrowing (less than five years) does not require voter approval, but long-term borrowing does. If the project will not increase taxes more than $0.50/$1,000 of assessment, an alternate approval process (counter petition) can be used. If the project will increase taxes above $0.50/$1000 of assessment, a referendum must be held.
HCMA had several principles they felt were important as the project proceeds: use the building to create a presence on the street and reflect the identity of the building, create an inviting and welcoming front entry, create a public space that supports social activity, enhance visual and physical connections within the facility and improve accessibility, solve some of the technical challenges in the existing building and create spaces that are unique to the Castlegar region.
Option 1: Social Hub — lobby expansion and upgrade, new reception, fireside room, warm arena viewing area, administrative offices, multipurpose/party room.
Cost: $2.6 million
Option 2: Leisure Pool — new leisure pool with water features, lazy river and beach entry, change room retrofit, universal change room expansion, spray pad.
Cost:$7.5 million, additional $75,000 in annual operating costs
Option 3: Running Track — indoor running/walking track can be added to existing arena or to a new arena expansion, new elevator to address spectator accessibility issues.
Cost: $1.5 million
Option 4: Fitness Centre — new expanded fitness room (cardio, stretching, weights), new fitness studio and storage (group classes), elevator and stairs to access level 2.
Cost: $2.2 million if built at ground level, $3.6 million of built above pool adding views to the pool and the outdoors, additional $40,000 in annual operating expenses.
Option 5: Arena — new NHL-sized arena, team rooms, parking expansion, lobby extension to facilitate more leisure skating activities.
Cost: $16.7 million, additional $46,000 in annual operating expenses.
Option 6: Multipurpose Spaces — three new multipurpose spaces; supports expanded fitness, arts, seniors and youth programming; supports enhanced arena use.
Cost: $4 million, additional $35,000 in annual operating expenses.
Option 7: Field House — large flexible gymnasium space (three full size basketball courts), parking expansion, change rooms, retractable seating for events.
Cost: $16.9 million, additional $98,000 in annual operating expenses.