To the editor:?
As the city of Thunder Bay is poised to make another critical decision on the future development of the city let us look at some of the issues that have been brought forward concerning the proposed multi-use facility.
Historically we have had problems with location, priorities, costing and over-runs, design, an unwillingness to accommodate concerns and a whole host of other details that in hindsight taught us some valuable lessons.
A multi-use facility – what, why, where and when. Let us begin with the important question as to what is a multi-use facility and what are our options.
What? A hockey centre, a curling rink, a convention hall? The most desired feature for this proposed facility is a convention hall seating 5,000 to 15,000 people. This should allow Thunder Bay to host national conventions and also present big- draw entertainment, as they make their Canadian and world tours.
We should also note that due to border regulations, bands find it very difficult to traverse the border, so that a band travelling east to west from Toronto to Winnipeg, would have Thunder Bay as an option. If we had seating for 5,000 to 15,000 people this would help bring down the price of tickets and we would be able to bring in the U.S. market from Duluth and Minneapolis.
How? In regards to affordability, we should learn from some local businesses like Gilberts Furniture on Simpson Street that built their facility in stages.
Where? The Port Arthur downtown location offers both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, to some, is the added traffic to the area. The centre could be a hook to attract the proposed hotel on the lake. On the negative side we have a lack of parking, lack of area for future development and its remoteness to a central traffic artery are long-term troublesome concerns. It has been stated this location is the least costly to build on, however, this short-term benefit could be seriously offset by the long-term costs and implications of the site to the area.
When? In hindsight, a new convention hall would have rendered more benefit to the city beyond the current waterfront development and new courthouse. Having said that the affordability of the project, should be of concern given the current tax levels in the city. There is a great avenue of resources that should provide us with investments and that is the profits from TBayTel.
Currently the profits from TBayTel appear to disappear within the budget of the city. Should we not have been more concerned about affordability before selecting a site, before some of the other projects for this city and its priorities?
Considering the options, and the flexibility of a proposed site we should be looking at an area that offers more land for parking, more land for future expansions, is closer to the airport, closer to existing and future hotels and more conveniently located to North/South, East/West traffic.
These would be more important reasons as to where to locate this facility. This is an issue that must concern itself with the City and its taxpayers first and foremost.
Caesar J. B. Squitti,
Thunder Bay
As the city of Thunder Bay is poised to make another critical decision on the future development of the city let us look at some of the issues that have been brought forward concerning the proposed multi-use facility.
Historically we have had problems with location, priorities, costing and over-runs, design, an unwillingness to accommodate concerns and a whole host of other details that in hindsight taught us some valuable lessons.
A multi-use facility – what, why, where and when. Let us begin with the important question as to what is a multi-use facility and what are our options.
What? A hockey centre, a curling rink, a convention hall? The most desired feature for this proposed facility is a convention hall seating 5,000 to 15,000 people. This should allow Thunder Bay to host national conventions and also present big- draw entertainment, as they make their Canadian and world tours.
We should also note that due to border regulations, bands find it very difficult to traverse the border, so that a band travelling east to west from Toronto to Winnipeg, would have Thunder Bay as an option. If we had seating for 5,000 to 15,000 people this would help bring down the price of tickets and we would be able to bring in the U.S. market from Duluth and Minneapolis.
How? In regards to affordability, we should learn from some local businesses like Gilberts Furniture on Simpson Street that built their facility in stages.
Where? The Port Arthur downtown location offers both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, to some, is the added traffic to the area. The centre could be a hook to attract the proposed hotel on the lake. On the negative side we have a lack of parking, lack of area for future development and its remoteness to a central traffic artery are long-term troublesome concerns. It has been stated this location is the least costly to build on, however, this short-term benefit could be seriously offset by the long-term costs and implications of the site to the area.
When? In hindsight, a new convention hall would have rendered more benefit to the city beyond the current waterfront development and new courthouse. Having said that the affordability of the project, should be of concern given the current tax levels in the city. There is a great avenue of resources that should provide us with investments and that is the profits from TBayTel.
Currently the profits from TBayTel appear to disappear within the budget of the city. Should we not have been more concerned about affordability before selecting a site, before some of the other projects for this city and its priorities?
Considering the options, and the flexibility of a proposed site we should be looking at an area that offers more land for parking, more land for future expansions, is closer to the airport, closer to existing and future hotels and more conveniently located to North/South, East/West traffic.
These would be more important reasons as to where to locate this facility. This is an issue that must concern itself with the City and its taxpayers first and foremost.
Caesar J. B. Squitti,
Thunder Bay
