Penticton City Council will be reviewing aging buildings across the city that need to be replaced or upgraded over a 20-year period.

The results of an 18-month review of the City’s aging assets and equipment determined that the replacement or upgrade will be more cost effective and of greater value to Penticton in the long term.

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.

The estimated net cost of repairing the buildings is $ 100 million.

“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, ”City Director General of Finance and Administration Jim Bauer said in a press release.

Four key recommendations are made for the services supported by these facilities to be continued or improved in the future:

• Build a new downtown arts and culture center to house the library, museum, art gallery and other arts groups. Rent Leir House at commercial rates.
• Consolidate the City’s ice surfaces on the SOEC site with the construction of a new twin arena and the demolition of the McLaren and Memorial arenas. Conversion of the Memorial site to a parking lot and disposition of the McLaren site for commercial redevelopment to fund the new arenas.
• Develop a new downtown public safety and emergency services center to replace Fire Hall one and house the Penticton Fire Department, Regulatory Services, Community Police and Emergency Operations Center from the city. Upgrade Fire Station Two to its current location.
• Retain City Hall as a civic and employment hub in the city center, modernize it as planned and modernize it as needed.

The report also makes other recommendations, including investing in maintaining the indoor soccer complex, with the city taking over operations, and upgrading the Cleland Theater, with a third party managing operations.

“These recommendations provide direction for $ 300 million in facilities that are critically in need of a plan,” Bauer said. “If the City implements the recommendations outlined, residents of Penticton will benefit from new facilities with modern features that are less expensive to maintain, have a longer lifespan, improve accessibility and reduce our environmental footprint at a cost. $ 20 million less than a simple repair. what we have today, ”said Bauer.

The review was launched in 2020 to identify assets and equipment reaching the end of their useful life and was prepared by Colliers Project Leader. The board will hear the results of the review at its meeting on Tuesday, with staff recommending an engagement process to involve the community in finalizing the plan.

“Many of these recommendations relate to the assets that house the services that residents enjoy and that are highly valued by the community. Before the City finalizes the plans, we want to build on our initial discussions with some of the user groups and confirm the direction with residents, ”said City Public Engagement Program Manager JoAnne. Kleb.

A “Civic Places and Spaces” project page has been created on the City’s shapeyourcitypenticton.ca website.

Representatives of user groups that currently operate or provide programs or services at affected facilities have commented positively on these changes.