Community Hub Report outlines $38 million project in Elliot Lake

The City of Elliot Lake Ad Hoc Community Hub Committee will look at a report from IDEA Inc., a Sault Ste. Marie architectural firm, that projects a cost estimate of $38.1 million for the Hub, on Friday afternoon.

It's the blueprint of plans to build the long anticipated Elliot Lake Recreation and Wellness Hub. The Scoping Report is expected be presented Friday afternoon in the Committee Room at Elliot Lake City Hall.

"The new Elliot Lake Recreation and Wellness Hub is divided into four main recreational blocks, Curling Sheets, Ice Pad Arena, Pool and Gymnasium.," the report states. "Each block is comprised of its own entrance, lobby, accessible washrooms and viewing platform in order to function as an individual entity, or as one collective space that is connected by the main public lobby."

IDEA Inc's cost estimates for the complex include $8.2 million for the building's shell, $7 million for the interior and $8.4 million for services, for a net building cost (excluding the site) of $23.7 million. 

Sitework costs are estimated at just under $2 million. So the net building cost including the site would be $25.7 million.

Other projected costs for the Hub, include another $6.1 million for allowances plus an additional $4.2 million for project management, architecture and engineering fees, other consultants, municipal liability and disbursements.

All that adds up to $38,109,076.

The action item timeline suggested by IDEA Inc, notes that submission of the Ontario Transfer Payments application, the business case and all applicable supporting documents took place on Nov. 12. 

Confirmation from the submission by the province is expected to take place this winter, 2020, and notification from the federal government is expected to come back in the spring or summer of next year, 2020.

Elliot Lake Mayor Dan Marchisella has submitted a draft letter, which is expected to be the basis for one to be distributed to a number of community organizations for their group input.

"As your group is considered an important stakeholder in the vitality and diversity of sport and recreation in our community, we are requesting your input," the letter reads.

"The funding application for provincial and federal funding has already been submitted and with the functional design portion of our business case you will see the square footage of your planned space."

"We would ask that you take the time to provide the Ad Hoc Community Hub Committee with what your user group determines to be mandatory needs for this space, but also include potential storage requirements, office space and additional needs that you believe would add to the future well being of the facility," he concluded.

Other issues to be dealt with at Friday's committee meeting are more potential grant applications and the Samsung Renewable Energy plan which is being looked at under the Community Hub Green Energy Use Plan.

The Ad Hoc Hub Committee is also expected to consider a business case document, a 10-year Pro Forma, a discussion of the public engagement process, a review the funding timeline, and a discussion of ways to promote public engagement.

The committee will likely also.take a look at public signage for the planned 151 Ontario Ave. property. That's the land which the City of Elliot Lake purchased as the Community Hub site last December.