A group of local investors is looking to re-imagine downtown Chatham and create “a collaboration like no other.”
The “Imagine Chatham-Kent” project and Downtown Chatham Centre redevelopment proposal will be presented to Chatham-Kent Council at their Monday, June 13, 2022 virtual meeting.
The proposal will focus on the redevelopment of the Downtown Chatham Centre property in cooperation with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
A preliminary design concept of the redevelopment, which has been funded by the investors, will be presented.
Some of the “high level” aspects, include:
– Redevelopment of the former Sears portion of the Downtown Chatham Centre into a Community Hub and promenade by the investors, under terms of sale to the Municipality, which will include the downtown parking garage.
– Redevelopment of denoted portions of the Downtown Chatham Centre by the investors for the purpose of constructing an Entertainment Complex, also under terms of sale to the Municipality.
– Retention of remaining lands on the property by the investors for future private sector commercial and residential development.
The slides for the presentation for Monday can be viewed in advance, here.
Who are the investors?
The community partners investing in the project, include: Rob Myers, Pete Tsirimbis, Jessica Tsirimbis, Ron Nydam, Donald Tetrault and Jim Bullock.
More details on each partner can be seen, below:
Some background shared by the Municipality, on behalf of the investors
– Last spring it was announced that a group of local investors had purchased the Downtown Chatham Centre.
– At the June 28, 2021 Council meeting administration was directed “to prepare a report regarding options for relocation or redevelopment of municipal assets including, but not limited to, the Civic Centre as part of the plans to redevelop the Downtown Chatham Centre property”.
– In July 2021 administration issued a survey on behalf of the investors to solicit ideas from the
public on how the Downtown Chatham Centre site can be developed for future use .
– Subsequent to this public engagement, the community partners commissioned an architectural firm to prepare a preliminary design concept for the redevelopment of the Downtown Chatham Centre site, at their cost.
– On May 5, 2022 the Community Partners formally presented the Imagine Chatham-Kent proposal to administration’s internal project team.
– No formal partnership currently exists between the Municipality and the community partners.
– No expenses related to the development of the Imagine Chatham-Kent proposal have been incurred by the Municipality. The preliminary design concept for the redevelopment of the Downtown Chatham Centre site has been at the community partner’s cost.
– Scope of the Community Hub in the preliminary design concept includes a co-location of services currently operating out of the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre, Chatham Library Branch, and Chatham Cultural Centre. The Municipality has not directed this scope and it would be subject to review and negotiation.
– Scope of the Entertainment Complex in the preliminary design concept includes a footprint to support a 4,000-seat facility for the purposes of hosting a variety of sports and events, including an ice surface. The Municipality has not directed this scope and it would be subject to review and negotiation.
– No commitments from prospective Entertainment Complex tenants are included in the terms of the proposal.
– Under proposal terms the Municipality would own the Community Hub and Entertainment Complex and be responsible for capital construction costs and ongoing operation.
– Closure of any current municipal buildings or arenas are not imminent or included within the terms of the proposal. Closures are at the sole discretion of Council. Opportunities for asset divestiture would be explored as part of the due diligence of this project, if directed by Council.
– If directed by Council, administration will determine capital cost estimates in conjunction with a review of the proposal’s scope and assumptions. Capital estimates have been provided by the Community Partners but administration has determined it too preliminary to be shared with confidence in accuracy.
– Pending direction from Council, administration expects a significant due diligence process will be undertaken to answer questions of feasibility, scope, cost, financing, operation.
Information from previous reports
– Previous reports related to June 28, 2021 Council Directive available at www.chatham-kent.ca.
– May 27, 2019 Council Meeting: Twin Pad Arena Funding Application: $63.8M estimated cost for twin pad and indoor multisport centre complex; $48M to $86M for complex alternatives; $16M Memorial Arena renovation costs; funding subsequently not approved by senior levels of government.
– January 13, 2020 Council Meeting: Civic Centre Renovation Costs & Alternatives: $18.1M for Civic Centre renovations; $34M to purchase and renovate a building to relocate Civic Centre and Community Human Services building operations; $56M to build a new facility for same purposes above.
– August 9, 2021 Council Meeting: Chatham Library expansion if relocated to DCC
– November 22, 2021 Council Meeting: KPMG Core Services Efficiency Review: Recommendation to balance the financial costs of operating facilities and improving services by repurposing and consolidating facilities with specific action to move towards a “one-stop-shop” model of community hubs and multi-purpose facilities that offer residents access to multiple services at the same location.
June 13, 2022 report to Council
Administration is providing two recommendations to Council in relation to the Imagine Chatham-Kent proposal.
The first is for public consultation to be conducted regarding the Imagine Chatham-Kent proposal to redevelop the Downtown Chatham Centre site for the purposes of co-locating municipal facilities (“Community Hub”) and hosting an Entertainment Complex, with results reported to Council on August 8, 2022.
The second is for up to $50,000 from the strategic reserve be allocated for initial due diligence on the Imagine Chatham-Kent proposal, with a status update reported to Council on August 8, 2022.
The full report can be viewed, here.
Monday’s meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will be live streamed on the Your TV Facebook and YouTube pages.
Watch for more on this story.
