Not building the multiplex has cost the City of Cambridge close to $500K

As Cambridge council recently voted to part ways with the Cambridge Centre Mall, councillor FrankMonteiro said it has cost the city "in the neighbourhood of half a million dollars" tonotbuild the proposed sports multiplex.

Those costs include negotiations,consultants the cityhired and other related expenses, MonteirotoldCBC'sCraig Norris onThe Morning Edition.

• CBC K-W's archived coverage of Cambridge sports multiplex

Monteirosaid staff learnedcosts for the project at the Cambridge Centre Mall were "through the roof" several months ago, while they were in negotiations withMorguardReal Estate Investment Trust, whichowns the mall.

A planto build the multiplex at the mall was approved by Cambridge council in Oct. 2017after it parked the 2015proposal to build the sports complex at Conestoga College,due to public outcry over the location.

Starting over

Now, city staff have to start the process of finding a location for the multiplex all over.

Staff are set to provide an information report to council on March 5, which willprovide otheraffordable location optionsfor where the multiplex could be built.

After that, staff have to do more public consultations to narrow down an ideal location.

Former Cambridge mayor, Doug Craig, said the initial location at Conestoga College was the best deal the city had to build the multiplex.

Conestoga College offered a 60-year lease for $2.5 million and construction of the entire multiplex would have been within the city's$80 million budget.

"There was no better deal,"Craig toldCBC K-W."I think it's unfortunate that the city went on to look at other things."

Location, location

Past proposed locations, such asPinebushand Conestoga College,are all back on the table,Monteirosaid, including a location in southeast Galt.

He saidthe city owns 13 hectares inGalt, which would help with reducing costs. Cambridge Centre Mall and Conestoga College sites would be on on leased lands.

Craig said it's ironic that council is now looking at thesoutheastGaltproperty because it's just as far away from the core as the Conestoga College location, and distance was one of the main issues the community voiced.

"It's just as far away as Conestoga and probably not as accessible as Conestoga to major parts of the city," Craig said.

Still needed?

Monteirobelieves Cambridge still needs the multiplex

"Even if we do it in two [locations]," he said. "But again that's up to the public to decide."