Chatham-Kent is taking the next step toward completely transforming Chatham’s downtown core.
Municipal councillors voted unanimously Monday in favour of allocating $50,000 from the strategic reserve towards the initial steps of getting the downtown revitalization project off the ground.
The Imagine Chatham-Kent transformation includes a community hub and promenade with a new city hall, a public library and a museum inside the former Sears building, an entertainment complex with a new municipally-owned 4,000-seat hockey arena, and a local sports hall of fame in the middle.
It also includes a third phase closer to Retro Suites that could be turned into more hotel suites or apartments.
Council also approved a public consultation process which will give residents a chance to provide their input on the proposal through the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website.
"You can already hear the buzz in our community and it's just fantastic," said Councillor Anthony Ceccacci.
Ceccacci followed his initial remarks up by making a point to address some confusion about what council was voting on Monday night.
"We are still doing our due diligence in regards to ensuring we are looking at our current assets, we will be assessing those current assets for the strategic reserve, and we will be basically manufacturing all the community consultation and be bringing it back," said Ceccacci. "So this is kind of like the trailer to the potential movie."
General Manager of Community Development Bruce McAllister agreed with Ceccacci's assessment noting that the municipality will continue with some additional due diligence.
"We do want to continue on with some additional due diligence," said McAllister. "We’re looking to get certified appraisals done in our assets and fully look at the business case going forward for this proposal.”
Enthusiasm was in abundance among all of the council members Monday night.
Councillor Michael Bondy had nothing but positive sentiments about the group leading downtown's potential future revitalization.
"I think this is a win for the municipality," said Bondy. "The entire community of Chatham-Kent will benefit from this. We have a downtown which has had its fair share of struggles and challenges. We have an opportunity as council and a community as a whole to take advantage of the generosity of this group."
Addressing one of the biggest questions of the night, Councillor Mark Authier asked about the project's costs and when it would be made public.
"The intent is to undertake further due diligence in the next several weeks and get back to council with what we can at that stage," said McAllister.
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff voiced his support for the project last week and continued to do so, adding that Chatham-Kent is in competition with every municipality across the province.
"This has made news right across Ontario," said Canniff. "Chatham-Kent has been noted right now to say that what we're looking to invest in. As we move forward, we're going to have two options - do nothing or build this facility."
Administration staff will provide an update to council on August 8 with a report on the public consultation process, as well as the project's cost estimates.
