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| New City Hall chamber a go |
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| Councillor Robert Lutczyk opposed the City Hall Council Chamber component and says he wanted to go with a design that he had created four years ago. |
By Lindsey Cole The Oshawa Express In a closed vote, the council chamber portion of the City Hall Revitalization Project got the go-ahead despite some councillors saying it is too costly and the design too ugly for Oshawa. However, thanks to city staff the project will be on time and on budget. City staff reported to council, during a special meeting recently, that the council chamber component would cost around $8.1 million, bringing the total to $14.8 million for the entire project. This is less than was announced a few months ago when the chamber was estimated to cost around $10 million, bringing the total to a $17 million cap. While this was good news, questions swirled around whether to proceed with the project now or wait until better economic times. “What I’m concerned with, it’s uncertain times,” says Councillor Louise Parkes. “What I need is that there’s some sense that we have a plan. My concern is the market conditions we’re in.” However, according to City Manager Bob Duignan, if City Council waited to construct the chamber and left the demolished site, it would end up costing an additional $1.4 million in three years versus now. That could also include $900,000 in construction costs, he explains. When it came to ensuring that the chamber would stay on budget, Duignan says there are tender prices bounded by contract.“They’re obligated to deliver within (the range). We’re very comfortable with the price.” For many councillors the idea of a metalsided ultra-modern facility doesn’t flow with the downtown and is ugly. “They (residents) don’t like the design,” says Councillor Maryanne Sholdra, despite voting in favour of the chamber.“As I said before it’s going to make it easier for the aliens to come down. The futuristic roofline is drawing a big lump in my throat. I do support going ahead with it but that’s the only issue I have.” Other councillors accused their colleagues of intentionally putting off construction so it could be used as an election issue.“Maybe it won’t look good on my resume for the election if I supported building City Hall,” says Councillor Nestor Pidwerbecki.“One hundred per cent of what council wanted was delivered. Should we not be proactive?” In a six to five vote, council approved going forward with the chamber component for $8.1 million, which includes a new council chamber, committee room, public meeting space, two barrier free entrances, washrooms, an expansion to the Service Oshawa area and support spaces. |
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Councillors Tito-Dante Marimpietri and
Robert Lutczyk do not support the project.“I voted against this demolition and I’m
going to vote against it today,” Councillor
Lutczyk says, adding four years ago he had
a painting professionally done to show a
renovation that would completely change
the face of City Hall, but would maintain its
architectural appeal, he says.
The painting shows a large structure,
reminiscent of the Supreme Court in Ottawa.“Some of them thought it was nice,” he
says of councillors at the time.“This is certainly what could have been.
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