By Craig Westcott
You can either blame Donald Trump or thank him, but the U.S. president's tariff war on Canada appears to be responsible for CBS council's decision to scrap plans to use an inflatable dome for the town's new community centre opting to go with a conventional steel building instead.
Ward 3 councillor Gerard Tilley made the announcement at last week's public council meeting.
Tilley said council changed its mind after getting updated estimates showing the balloon structure would cost an extra $4 million to build, bringing the total to $20 million because of trade and tariff issues.
"At that point, council accepted the recommendation of its external consultant and staff to revisit pricing for a self-supporting steel structure," Tilley said. "The new cost estimate for a steel structure came in at $22 million, but with significantly lower annual operating costs, which would quickly absorb the $2 million difference."
Tilley said council initially decided to go with the balloon structure because it was the cheapest alternative at the time.
"That cost preference has essentially been eroded with escalating prices to the point that it is no longer the lowest cost long term," he said.
Despite the change, the centre will still be built on time, with work starting this year and an opening date in 2027, Tilley said.
None of the work conducted so far, including road upgrades to the site in Gateway off Legion Road, has been wasted, Tilley added. “The overall project scope and timeline remain unaffected by any change in structure type. In addition, the footprint and size of the playing surface remain essentially the same."
Council announced it was going ahead with an inflatable structure in January last year. It hired Lat49 Architecture to serve as its prime consultant to oversee construction and changed its development regulations to accommodate the dome’s expected 30-metre height.
Tilley said like the dome, the steel building will also provide some 100,000 square feet of space.
"The facility will continue to support a wide range of activities, including court sports such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, as well as turf-based activities like football, soccer, baseball, softball, and ultimate frisbee," he said. "Community spaces and amenities will also be included to support local programming and events."
In a written statement – because her voice was hoarse from the flu – Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse, who chairs council's finance committee, said the decision reflects the Town's responsibility to minimize the tax burden on residents.
"The purpose and programming for this project have not changed," Gosse said. "The Community Lifestyle Centre will provide a modern, year-round space for recreation, programming, and community use, and the revised approach strengthens its long-term financial sustainability for residents.”
