COLLINS: Council in a muddle over multiplex?
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FORGIVE ME IF I APPROACH the idea of a new multiplex in Dufferin with a little trepidation now that more information is coming out. Last fall, citizens approved the borrowing of up to $125 million dollars to go toward the multiplex. But while we know the main feature will be a multiple-ice-rink complex, we know little else. And I guess that’s to be expected this early in the planning stages but a recent story by CFJC Today’s Victor Kaisar started many red flags waving. Most, if not all if the issues will be resolved in time, but right now, questions are flying.
The site has lots of issues. It is limited in size. Council has no clue at this point how much it will cost. Nor do we know what amenities we will have. There has been talk of an indoor fitness track, meeting rooms, washrooms for the use of people using Kenna Cartwright Park and more. These amenities are critical to the success of the project. If we only have four sheets of ice without those amenities, we’ll be wasting our time.
And we need to ensure that those amenities are put in at the start. The last thing we want is to start building the rinks and find out they’re going to be over budget, so we cut some of the ‘frills’ and we’re left with a half-baked multiplex which won’t attract flies. We would then defer the frills until a later date, which means they likely won’t ever be built because there will be too many other projects on the drawing board.
I also want to see what plans are in place for security. This multiplex is at the edge of the city with little to protect it. It could be a big target for vandals.
