I don't see how any of your points counter my argument. Your point 4 is pretty much my argument.
Mayor Iveson wants options for Northlands Coliseum once it’s closed
Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton will close effective Jan. 1, 2018.
Mayor Don Iveson wants to get the conversation going on what the next step is for Edmonton’s Northlands Coliseum.
Earlier this year, council voted for the city to take over the Coliseum on Jan. 1, 2018 and permanently close the arena.
During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Iveson requested a report from administration on the impacts of demolishing the building.
“One, whether any practical alternatives have come forward for re-purposing of the Coliseum,” Iveson said. “Two, what would the costs to secure the site be, if the building were demolished. And three, what would be the estimated demolition cost.”
He requested the report be brought back for the December 5 city council meeting.
With the election over, the new city council can really look into the question of practical reuse.
“Now that the cost implications of leaving it boarded up are estimated and they may be refined at 1.5-million a year,” Iveson said.
“I think we have to have a serious conversation about whether it’s financially in anyone’s best interest to board up a building … whose time may be up.”
I should have said "group". archited's Group's plans would use their own money, not the city's:
It makes no sense to rush to demolish it if someone is interested in buying. Something does not add up here. Does the City want to keep the land (but not the building)?
Estimated cost to demo Coliseum doubles, Edmonton report says
Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton.
Global News
A report heading to Edmonton city council next week says the estimated cost to demolish the Coliseum has spiked from $8 million to between $15 million and $25 million.
“That figure that we’re quoting now – $15 to $25 (million) – is really, really high level,” City Manager Linda Cochrane said Friday.
“We haven’t done the analysis on the building to the extent that we’d want to do before we’d give an accurate cost to council.”
The annual operating costs in the vacant building would be about $1.5 million each year.
The city, through the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) and Northlands, has begun the transition of shifting employees into a new working arrangement. The operation of the Expo Centre will transfer over next month.
Demolishing Coliseum could cost up to $25M, city report says
The former home to the Edmonton Oilers will close permanently at the end of this year. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)
Demolishing Edmonton's iconic Northlands Coliseum could cost up to $25 million, the city says in a report going to council Tuesday.
In September, Northlands estimated the cost at $8 million.
The report from city administrators says the demolition cost could range between $15 million and $25 million.
"Fifteen to 25 is really high-level," said Linda Cochrane, city manager. "We haven't done the analysis on the building to the extent that we would want to do before we give an accurate cost to council.
The Coliseum, formerly known as Rexall Place, will permanently close on Jan. 1.
Not everyone sees the demolition of the Coliseum as inevitable.
"I've been pretty clear. I don't want to see the building come down. That's my primary concern," said Ward 11 Coun. Mike Nickel.
"I think we can repurpose it if we put our minds to it. I think the province, if we put something intelligent in front of them, they might be interested as well."
City Council needs to get it right on Northlands Coliseum redevelopment
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As a resident of the area (I live a 10 minute walk away from the Coliseum in the Bellevue neighbourhood), it is frustrating to feel like this area of the city was an afterthought. But while it is important to recognize past mistakes made by the City on this issue, it is also helpful to look for solutions for the future.
Community input and engagement should play a critical role in determining the future of the Coliseum and the Northlands property. But the engagement should be meaningful. Meaningless buzz-phrases, like we saw included in a recent press release from the City of Edmonton on this issue are not helpful (ie: “tap[ping] into the magnitude of the opportunity for transformation”).
Meaningful engagement is important, because residential neighbourhoods and commercial districts in the area will be directly impacted by any future plans, just as they had by the past expansion of Northlands.
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I am not sure what the best new use of the land would be, but I do not know anyone who thinks leaving the Coliseum boarded up and abandoned would be good for the neighbourhood. But an empty and abandoned lot fit for gravel and Used Car Dealerships is also not ideal.
Demolishing the Coliseum no easy task but should have been anticipated, prof says
The former home to the Edmonton Oilers will close permanently at the end of this year and city council must decide if it will demolish the building. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)
Uncertainty about the future of the Coliseum could have been avoided if the main players in Edmonton's new arena development had considered the realistic cost of demolishing the Oilers' former home.
"It certainly should have been discussed as part of the (Rogers Place) build," said Moshe Lander, a Concordia university professor who specializes in the economics of sports.
"Maybe there could have been a negotiation with the Oilers ownership ... that we'll give you $250 million, but we're going to claw back $20 million as part of your contribution to the decommissioning cost.
"If that wasn't done, that was — take your pick — oversight or negligence."
Lander's comments come as city council is set to discuss Wednesday the estimated cost of tearing down the once-storied home of the Edmonton Oilers. A report to council pegs the cost at between $15 million and $25 million.
But city council hasn't yet agreed to tear down the Coliseum, which will be shuttered on Jan. 1. Some councillors have expressed hope the building will be saved and re-purposed.
Mayor Don Iveson, however, is not convinced there are practical suggestions for how to re-imagine the arena's future. He noted the once-promising idea of converting the hockey arena into amateur sports space would cost more than building four new rinks from scratch.
"Vacant sites and boarded up buildings are not in the community's interests," Iveson said on Tuesday. "We'll take actions to remove buildings from the (Northlands) site, to prepare them for redevelopment, unless there's a compelling case for a re-purpose."
