Councillor kick-starts Grightmire renovations

By Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News

Architects who drew up J.L. Grightmire Arena renovation plans for the Hockeyville Legacy Foundation have been secured by the City of Hamilton as design consultants for the project.

Dundas councillor Russ Powers introduced the motion to approve Invizij Architects Inc., designers of several Hamilton area recreation projects, instead of tendering the project in order to help meet a couple of big deadlines.

The project that will completely redevelop the Market Street arenas front entrance, bringing in new change rooms, washrooms and an elevator as well as a new second floor lounge, meeting areas and Dundas Sports Wall of Fame, is targeted for completion before the April 2014 Allan Cup amateur mens national hockey championship being hosted by the Dundas Real McCoys.

The project was submitted as part of a funding request to the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF), which requires funded projects to be finished by March 31, 2014.

Theres no reason why we cant have construction before (next) season starts, Powers said at last weeks meeting of the Dundas Community Council.

The Hockeyville Legacy Foundation is contributing $600,000 to the project, and has already received detailed drawings from Invisij Architects.

In addition, the city has requested $1-million from the CIIF while committing $1.1-million itself.

Because the Grightmire Arena renovation is listed on the citys preliminary 2013 capital budget, it is one of several projects on the citys CIIF request causing funding pressures explained Adam Smith, a senior financial analyst at the City of Hamilton.

It would potentially reduce some of those pressures if an announcement were to be made prior to the December 11 (General Issues Committee) meeting, Smith said.

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Councillor kick-starts Grightmire renovations