Construction of West End Community Centre almost on time

Construction of the West End Community Centre is on budget but not quite on time right now, says Sault Ste. Marie City Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi.

Speaking to a question from Ward 6 Councillor Joe Krmpotich at tonight's City Council meeting, Fratesi said the project is a little bit behind where it was supposed to be right now because a shipment of siding had to be returned to the company.

The siding was not what the city was looking for and it was sent back, he said.

But the setback is very minor and not expected to delay opening of the building as scheduled, even if the opening of some components, like the new Korah Branch Library, may be delayed at bit, he said.

Ground was broken for the $11.3 million project in April 2011 and it's expected to be essentially completed early in 2012.

The West End Community Centre will be located between Korah Collegiate and Vocational Secondary School and the existing W. J. McMeeken Centre and will house two indoor multi-use turf fields, a full-service concession and the new Korah Branch Library.

In a further phase of development the City plans to replace the W. J. McMeeken Centre with at least one indoor ice surface to be added to the West End Community Centre.

The funding formula for the new facility includes $6.2 million (55 percent) ($1.5 million from NOHFC and $4.7 million from Investing in Ontario) from Provincial coffers and $5.1 million (45 percent) from the City of Sault Ste. Marie.