Good news for Bracebridge residents: the new arena and library complex remains on schedule and on budget.
Council recently received an update from Collier’s Project Leaders on the status of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre. The report indicates the project is on target to hit the estimated budget of $75.3 million.
The schedule also remains on target, which puts the Community Centre on pace to open to the public in August 2024.
Over the past three months, the project has seen various tasks completed. Those include the concrete second-floor slab and arena team change room being poured. Plumbing, mechanical, electrical and roofing are currently in progress.
When finished, the approximately 113, 700 square foot community centre will include a 1,000 seat arena, public library, community auditorium, indoor multi-sport field house, common lobby, 330 parking stalls, outdoor play spaces and an area retained for a future second arena.
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Mac Redden says
Sure. “On budget” after a $15 million!! increase.
“The preliminary project budget was shy of $60 million; however, in late 2021, when tenders for the project began to roll in, the capital budget for the project increased to about $75 million. The loans required will make Bracebridge one of Ontario’s top indebted communities.”
Just like Huntsville and the District. Cost is no object.
Drunken sailors are thriftier.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/huntsville-council/
Mac Redden says
The new arena is actually a financial disaster.
Cost is 3.3X!! expected for Bracebridge taxpayers.
Not good news.
“the project was costing $40 million!! more than initially anticipated.” For some ugly boxes.
“The loans required will make Bracebridge one of Ontario’s top indebted communities.”
Also not good news. A disaster actually.
When expected federal and provincial funding didn’t come through did Bracebridge cancel or scale back the project and the cost?
Nope. Just borrow FAR more. Using the District’s access to huge loans.
Sounds just like the District’s $65 million Huntsville sewer fiasco.
When the expected 2/3 federal and the provincial funding didn’t come through did they cancel or scale back the project?
Nope. Just borrow FAR more.
Search “Bracebridge moving forward with community centre build despite cost spike”
“So, the town’s direct share is currently estimated at $58.47 million, whereas it was previously estimated at $17.9 million under an initial ICIP funding scenario described above; therefore, the difference is $58.47 million – $17.9 million = $40.57 million.”
3.3X!! expected.
You may wonder how could our taxes possibly be this high when we have the cash cow of cottagers who pay high taxes for few services?
Wildly out-of-control spending like these projects is how.
While giving themselves a 27%!!! salary increase over the next 4 years.
As residents struggle with inflation.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/district-council-defeats-attempt-to-reduce-proposed-increase-to-councillor-pay/
Have all Muskoka councillors and staff lost their mind?
We will be paying for their mistakes for decades to come.
Mac Taylor says
This pet project of certain politicians Is really costing BRACEBRIDGE TAXPAYERS 8 times more than projected. All borrowed money at twice the original projected interest rate. Cost to taxpayer ballooned from original $16 million to over $65 million.. ALL BORROWED.
Financial disaster coming to Bracebridge. But those who pushed this project are either already gone to other higher level pastures or will be moving on soon, leaving our young people to pay. Madness!
DeniseCooper says
Can You Believe 70 odd million for a Arena? But have they found any funds for affordable housing since Rick Williams left the District? That is how long ago I remember telling Rick we need affordable housing. What happens to our politicians once they are in office? One thought is to remove the ice in the winter and fill it with beds. Next election, let us elect decision-makers.
Denise Cooper says
The arena is a wonderful building for BB however, to say it’s on budget is a stretch. The 75 million being spent might have been better allocated to affordable housing. There is a desperate need to give dignity and security to a segment of our population.
Muskoka District Council must try harder to get affordable housing on its agenda and bring it to fruition.
Denise Cooper
Mac Redden says
For $13 million, Listowel, population 7,500, built a beautiful new arena complex in 2017.
The 63,500-square-foot complex includes a regulation-size ice surface, approximately 750 seats, six dressing rooms, a two-lane indoor walking track, shared community space and an outdoor, lit soccer field.
How could the Bracebridge arena complex possibly cost $75 million!!?
Even with the optional field house and library added?
Search “Community comes together to build new Steve Kerr Memorial Complex”
$13 million.
“It all came down to dollars and cents,” Hardie said.
Bracebridge has absolutely no sense.
A massive amount of debt now though.
One of Ontario’s top indebted communities
Ontario thinks the total cost in Bracebridge is $22 million.
“Ontario Investing Over $16 Million in a Multi-Use Community Centre in Bracebridge”
“The Ontario government is investing over $16 million to support the construction of a $22 million Multi-Use Community Centre in Bracebridge.”
Who exactly is benefiting from the massive, massive, unbelievable increase in cost to taxpayers from this disaster?
Does the person who told council the province and feds would fund most of it still have a job?
3.3X!! expected cost for Bracebridge with a year to go.
Don’t be surprised the total is 4X!! expected next year.