The Brad Sinclair Team, Rural Real Estate-Buy, Sell, Invest.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Peterborough needs to think bigger than the proposed twin pad arena

The proposed new twin pad arena at Trent University sounds like a great complex. The complex would have the following elements:

a twin pad community arena
an elevated running track
off-ice training centre
sport office and sport storage space
administrative space
multi-purpose and meeting facilities
commercial opportunities
the addition of a 25-metre, 10-lane competitive pool and a warm up pool is also being considered to be included in the first phase of the arena project.

The projected cost of this arena was announced at $53 million. The land was to be provided by Trent University. At this point what the deal between the City and Trent University to have the land is not clear to me or the public. The land also comes with a few issues including building on wetlands, endangered species and First Nations are not happy about the destruction of the lands as this project impacts treaties. I also hate the location of Trent for an arena. There is no easy access to the arena for opposing teams coming into the city. To get to the arena they would have to travel the Parkway to Lansdowne to Water or through the back roads of Douro-Dummer township to arrive at the rink. Also for tournament purposes there is no accommodations in the immediate area. The only way this location will work is if the Parkway is constructed.

The Rethink Group who was hired by the city for consultation. Rethink says the city is in need:

So right from the start a twin pad is too small. Why are we not addressing the ice pad need first then adding all these "extras" that are ballooning the costs to build? Rethink projected costs of the twin pad complex at $20-26 million depending on level of finish. A Triple Pad was projected at $27-$36 million again depending on level of finish. To build a twin pad 8 acres of land is required and a triple pad arena requires 12 acres.

Now that the Provincial Government has held back the $18 million promised for this project the City has delayed the project by one year. The city has spent $2.1 million on architectural drawings. What a waste.

That all said I think the city should take the next year and come up with a new plan. The project does not meet the needs of the city. Why go though all this expense and time and build a complex that is too small? I just don't understand. Take this as an opportunity. Find a proper location in the city by the 115. Build a quad ice surface facility that would bring in weekend tournaments but not effect the ice time of teams and leagues not associated in that tournament. For funding, keep working on Federal and Provincial governments for funding but don't be fearful of approaching business and corporate partnerships for further funding.

What are your thoughts?

That is all I have for you today.

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

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Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Lake riding not such a hot idea right now and Peterborough Memorial Center floor repair consequences

Lake riding not such a hot idea right now

A man decided that Chemong Lake looked like a good place to ride his new snowmobile on Tuesday night and needed to be rescued after he went through the ice.

Peterborough County OPP were called to the scene near the James A. Gifford Causeway around 10 p.m. They say a man was taking his recently purchased snowmobile for a test drive when he went through the ice.

“The snowmobiler was able to self rescue with assistance from a friend. The man did not require medical treatment,” OPP stated. “The snowmobile remained in the lake and will be removed on Wednesday.”

The snowmobiler was charged with an offence under the Motorized Snow Vehicle Act.

Ministry of the Environment was notified by the OPP

Peterborough Memorial Center floor repair consequences

Well the Lakers 2019 season is doomed thanks to the City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Petes unwillingness to listen to anyone but their own engineer. This crazy saga I thought would never come to spending over 3 million dollars in the old dog of a building in Peterborough and displacing a back to back Canadian Champion in the Lakers.

This is not where it ends. I am going to do a little prediction here and we will see if I am right or not. I am willing to go on the record on these 3 consequences of the path the city decided to take.

1. The floor cost will ballon over 7 million dollars.

You just know that this project will get started and they will find more issues that need to be repaired while having the floor dug up. This will ballon costs well over budgeted amount of 3.5 million dollars. Where will the money be found to pay for the extra costs?

2. City Council after spending large amounts of money on the floor will have no interest in building a new arena

After spending millions of dollars on the PMC floor council will have no mood to work on a new arena. You can't spend millions of dollars for a short term fix. The city will want to get value from the millions of dollars spent. A new arena will not even start to be built until after 2035. This is not good for Peterborough and it's sport teams to still be in the PMC in 17 years. Hopefully the Petes are not hoping to host a Memorial Cup anytime soon.

3. The Lakers will not repeat as Mann Cup Champions

I don't think the Lakers will even win the Ontario Championship. They have lost their home, their fans and maybe their will to win for a city that tosses them out on their ear to satisfy another organizations request without making every effort to try to save their home.

I just think that we can do much better then the plan the city is forging ahead with. The consequences of doing the full replacement is much greater then if the floor is repaired and an ice mat is purchased. Council and the Petes just don't see this as they are being short sighted while they think they are doing the best for their long term future.