By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Yes, no, and a whole lot of maybes.
That’s the gist of the comments The Chatham Voice heard from citizens attending last week’s open house regarding Chatham-Kent’s plan to revamp the old Sears building into a community hub for municipal services that include a new museum and library.
The event saw 257 people come through the doors of the J.D. Bradley Centre to get a first look at the architectural renderings of what the new hub may look like.
Jean Baker, who lives at The Boardwalk building on King Street, said she’d like to see the community hub move forward as long as costs remain in check.
“I think it’s great,” Baker told The Voice. “Without it, I think Chatham (the downtown) is just going to fold up.”
Local resident Regina Stockus said she also supports the development.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea to modernize the downtown and pull Chatham forward by combining the old and new,” she added, but noted costs need to be considered.
“This is something you would see in the big city,” Stockus added. ” It can bring Chatham to a new age.”
However, many of the people The Voice spoke with said they weren’t sure what to think.
Local historians Sheila Gibbs and Jim and Lisa Gilbert all said they’re on the fence about the project.
“I want to know more about it. If they can prove added value for Chatham-Kent, then I’m all for it,” Jim Gilbert said.
Former Chatham-Kent Public Library chair Robert Clarke said he is worried about accessibility and parking availability for library patrons as there are only six spots currently allocated for the library on Wellington Street.
“Is it ideal? No,” Clarke said. “Is it better than what we have? Yes.”
Former library CEO Tania Sharpe also attended the session. She said the library needs more room.
“We’ve wanted more space for a long time,” Sharpe said. “Let’s make sure it’s designed properly.”
However, those in the no camp remain strongly opposed. Wallaceburg resident Jim Martin said spending the money on the hub isn’t fiscally responsible in light of a possible 9.5-per-cent tax hike for C-K ratepayers.
“It’s not the time,” Martin said. “I don’t think the old Sears building is the place for a new city hall.”
Outside the Bradley Centre entrance, Mayor Darrin Canniff engaged with some of the residents opposed to the new community hub, explaining that the municipality will gain a brand-new facility that will attract people to the downtown.
One of those was Sheila Martin, who said she’s been told by many residents they don’t want the hub to proceed.
“Why is council going against the wishes of its citizens?” Martin asked. “We have many seniors and if they can’t pay their property tax they’ll lose their homes. The time for fiscal responsibility is now.”
Residents who want to see the renderings of the C-K Community Hub project can access the slide presentation at letstalkchatham-kent.ca. A survey on the matter is available on the website and is open until Aug. 7. A dedicated space for questions and answers is also posted.
Highlights
- Chatham-Kent Museum would go from 11,700 square feet of space to 29,324 sq. ft., allowing for 114 per cent more exhibit space
- Space for the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre would decrease 3.6 per cent (excluding the Station 1 firehall) for a total of 46,385 sq. feet. Some departments, such as building services would be moved to the Park Avenue Business Centre
- Space for the Chatham-Kent Public Library will nearly double, going from its current square footage of 22,960 to 43,569 sq. ft.
- Pending council approval, the project will now move into Phase 3, with the detailed design element to be initiated this fall. Costs will come back to council in the winter of 2025. Further approvals will be needed and if those are given, construction could begin in 2025 with completion slated for the spring of 2027.
- Phase 1 of the project saw Chatham-Kent council purchase the Sears portion in the old Downtown Chatham Centre for just under $3 million in January. Expensive upgrades, to the tune of $37 million, are needed to fix the current Civic Centre as it has been allowed to fall into disrepair by previous councils. According to municipal calculations on the project, pending the sale of the library and civic centre, the municipality should be able to build the new community hub for an additional $6 million.
- A group of private developers is working on a project called one hundred KING to revamp the Downtown Chatham Centre. The project is separate from the municipal community hub and is proceeding even if the municipal community hub is not approved.
