By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chatham-Kent Community Hub project is moving to the construction procurement stage – despite some loud opposition.
At a meeting held Monday at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre, Chatham-Kent council voted 12 to 5 in favour of going ahead with seeking requests for proposals for the new development which would occupy the former Sears building.
All 18 members of council were present for the vote, with councillors Michael Bondy, Rhonda Jubenville, Morena McDonald, Alysson Storey and John Wright voting no.
Conor Allin, Lauren Anderson, Anthony Ceccacci, Marjorie Crew, Ryan Doyle, Amy Finn, Aaron Hall, Melissa Harrigan, Jamie McGrail, Brock McGregor, Carmen McGregor and Mayor Darrin Canniff gave the Hub a thumbs up.
One councillor did not vote. South Kent Coun. Trevor Thompson recused himself, stating he “really struggled” with the process, stressing the fact that council has been the target of “deep-seated” ill will and malice.
“I can’t vote on this,” Thompson said, noting he had been against moving ahead for most of the process.
West Kent Coun. Lauren Anderson, who spoke in favour of advancing to the next step, said she was also upset with the vitriol aimed at council, stating it was a “smear campaign” started by one councillor.
Jubenville and Storey – both strong opponents of the Hub – urged their fellow councillors to vote no.
Storey said she had issues with the costing, questioning how the $53-million estimate has stayed the same for two years, especially in light of U.S. tariffs.
“I’m not confident with this half a sheet of paper,” Storey said of the financial report.
But on the flip side, Hub advocates believe the downtown Chatham development is the best choice.
Doyle said that as father of two young children he supports the project, noting it was a small group that was pushing against the Hub.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said the Hub is a boost for future generations.
“I want my kids and grandkids to stay here,” Canniff told the group. “This is the most fiscally responsible thing and we get a library and museum to last the next 50 years.”
Canniff also paid homage to developer Rob Myers, one of the former owners of the Sears building, who is creating a $5-million endowment for the library and museum.
Council spent a total of four hours on the Hub issue in front of a mostly gray-haired crowd of more around 200 people.
Council received a total of 23 deputations. Two thirds of the 17 presented live to council spoke against the Hub. These were met with heartier applause than the deputations speaking in favour.
The evening included a presentation outlining the Hub’s high-level costs.
Throughout the night, the discussion ping ponged back and forth between fixing up the deteriorating Chatham-Kent Civic Centre or proceeding with the new Hub.
Monday’s vote isn’t the final step. The construction requests for proposals will come back to council in the fall for the final decision.
Data presented by Dan Amicone of Windsor-based Architecttura, the company hired to design the project, said the firm has been “very pro-active” when addressing costs, including factoring in U.S. imposed tariffs.
The Community Hub will see the former Sears building redeveloped to include a new library, a new museum and civic Centre, featuring shared community spaces.
The plan includes selling the Chatham branch of the library and the current Civic Centre for an estimated $9 million.
For more details on costing, please click here.
