Civic Arena Could Get Another Study

Vernon’s Civic Arena continues to escape a date with a wrecking ball.

Based on community input, city council has decided to take a closer look at re-purposing the 80 year old building, and the costs of turning it into a simple shell.

Councillor Scott Anderson says they could spend between $15,000 and $35,000 dollars for a study.

“What we’ve chosen is to have a high level study that gives us at least an idea of whether its worth going on or not. I support that rather than spending a lot of dollars to find out it’s not feasible at all,” Anderson tells Kiss FM

Councillor Brian Quiring feels the Civic is at the end of its usable life, saying a report back in 1988 said its foundation was failing, and it was falling apart.

“We’re kind of kicking a dead horse here,” said Quiring, adding later, “this building is ready for demolition.

Mayor Akbal Mund says council pledged to look into the cost of re-purposing the Civic.

“If we get something that tells us it’s going to be too much money, we may not go ahead with spending that $35,000 and a go ahead with the study, because it’s already shown through the engineer (1988 report), this may not work due to a foundation that’s failing,” Mund told the media.

Council asked staff in March 2017 to explore detailed cost estimates for re-purposing the building into different uses, such as a public market, dry sports or recreational facility, or a cultural facility. Staff reported that such estimates could cost as much as $220,000 to produce.

The Civic Arena, which opened in 1938, will be decommissioned when the new ice surface at Kal Tire Place is complete in fall of 2018.