The city of Penticton announced on Friday (September 17) recommendations to replace some of the city’s aging equipment.

The review, prepared by Colliers Project Leaders, is part of the city’s asset and facility management project and identifies buildings in the city that are approaching the end of their useful life.

These buildings include Fire Halls One and Two, Penticton City Hall, Memorial and McLaren Arenas, Penticton Library and Museum, Penticton Art Gallery, Leir House, Cleland Theater and Complex indoor soccer field.

Improvements and / or replacements of these buildings could include modernizing buildings or constructing brand new buildings to replace the services they provide.

Some key recommendations from the report were as follows:

• Create a new downtown arts and culture center to house the library, museum, art gallery and other artistic groups;

• Consolidate the city’s ice surfaces at the South Okanagan Events Center site with the construction of a new twin arena, then demolish the McLaren and Memorial arenas;

• Develop a new downtown public safety and emergency services center to replace the first fire hall and house the Penticton Fire Department, Regulatory Services, Community Police and Operations Center. city ​​emergency;

• Upgrade fire station two to its current location;

• Retain City Hall as the civic and employment hub of the city center, modernize as planned and upgrade as needed.

The current library and museum would be rented or sold to fund the recommended center, while Leir House would be rented at commercial rates.

Memorial and McLaren Arenas would be demolished and the Memorial site would be used as a parking lot while McLaren would be rented or sold to fund the referrals.

“Many of Penticton’s aging public assets are reaching the end of their useful life and rather than just replacing them brick by brick, this review examines the current challenges and opportunities with each asset and identifies the options that create the greatest benefit. from a strategic and community perspective, ”said Jim Bauer, Chief Financial Officer of Penticton.

He added that the recommendations would cost $ 20 million less than repairing pre-existing equipment.

The recommended scenario would cost around $ 100 million and would depend on the rezoning, sale and lease of affected municipal properties.

The city has consulted with each of the affected groups on the recommendations and potential actions.

All responses were positive and supportive of the changes, with many saying their needs outlived the buildings.

For more information on the project, visit shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.

City council will hear the results of the review at the September 21 meeting, and if the recommendations are accepted, the project is expected to take about 20 years.

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