Clearview council has decided not to proceed with the renovation of Avening Hall, with the blessing of the hall board.
Council members accepted a recommendation from Clearview Township CAO Stephen Sage Monday night, that they decline the tender because of the high cost. When the accessibility renovation went to tender in August, officials knew the cost would come in above the original estimate of $235,000 but they were surprised to see that it was $654,000 plus engineering (possibly in the neighbourhood of $50,000), not including tax.
In August 2015, Avening Hall received a $110,000 grant from the federal government’s Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, which would have covered almost half of the original 2012 cost estimate but would barely put a dent in the overall cost.
As a result, Avening Hall has recommended the renovation be delayed in order to determine community commitment to such a large expenditure and obtain additional funding for the project.
A statement from the Avening Hall board said, “Through consultation with the community, engineers and Clearview staff, the Avening Hall Board has determined that a renovation ensuring accessibility, but ignoring overall facility needs of the 65-year-old community centre, would be a poor allocation of funds. To that end a plan with a larger scope than just meeting accessibility needs was recommended to Clearview Council by the Avening Hall Board.”
The proposed renovation would have involved adding an elevator and wheelchair accessible features, including washrooms. The hall board, based on a staff recommendation to create a commercial kitchen, also proposed renovating the kitchen, bringing it up-to-date and accessible.
Avening Hall pledged to raise $100,000 over 12 years to help pay for the extras.
“I am disappointed we can’t do it but I understand we can’t afford it,” said councillor Doug Measures.
Sage said the mayor has been attempting to contact MP Kellie Leitch to inquire as to the possibility of reallocating the funds to another location and extending the deadline for spending the accessibility funds. As per condition of the grant, the funds were to be spent by the spring, as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary.