Downtown entertainment centre debated by Moncton councillors

The debate over the future of a $107 milliondowntown entertainment centre in Monctoncontinued on ThursdayasCoun.Brian Hicks and Coun.Blair Lawrence took questions during a phone-in on Information Morning Moncton.

Lawrencesupports the centre and says to achieve a vibrant downtown the city has to be nurtured.

Information Morning - Moncton32:36Moncton's downtown centre debated

Moncton City councillors Brian Hicks and Blair Lawrence debate the proposed downtown centre while listeners weigh in with questions and opinions.

"It's really a project thatis an investment. Certainly there'sa cost, but there's an investmentthat would serve as a catalystfor growth in order that we can afford citizens what they can expect so it will generate all kinds of spin off," Lawrence said.

Hicks, who wasoriginally in support of a downtown entertainment centre when it was first discussed in 2010, sayswithout secured funding from the province or a major tenant agreement with the Moncton Wildcats hockey team, there is no way to move forward.

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"Even at this late date, after six years there's all these unknowns we don't know. If anyone talks about an investment here, you'd better be able to talk about how do you measure that return," Hicks said.

Mark McCaw of Monctoncalled in and questioned putting an entertainment centre in the downtown core, arguing the Moncton Coliseum should be renovatedbecause it makesmore sense for people coming from out of town.

"If they build this thing downtown that's ridiculous, people aren't going to be able to get in and out of there. How do they think they're going to move 10,000 people and their vehicles in and out of town, let alonespend the probably $200 million or more that it'll be at the end of this because we know if it says $100 million it's always double."

McCaw says people simply don't have the money to pay taxes to fund this "pipe dream centre."

Hicks agreed with McCaw, saying there is a lot of opposition to a downtown centre in Moncton and that the Irving-owned Wildcats would be satisfied with some upgrades to the Coliseum.

"If you take say $27 million, and that would be a high figure, all Mr. Irving wants is to raise the roof a bit, put in a few boxes, that's basically what he wants."

Hicks suggests that if the City of Moncton partners with the federal and provincial governments on upgrading the Coliseum it could then take remainingmoney earmarked for the downtown centre and spend it elsewhere.

"That would leave $41 million to spend downtown into something that actually does bring economic benefit."

More debate needed

Hicks says with taxpayer dollars on the line, it is time to debate the options to revitalize the downtown and to ask citizens how much they are will to pay for a new downtown centre.

"We've never, as a council, even allowed people to talk about what other options are available," Hicks said.

Lawrence says everyone is entitled to an opinion about the downtown centre, but after seven years he believes it's been researched enough.

"There's always a reason to say no to something, it's always easier to say no but I would say as a council I think that we are asked by the general public to make measured, judicious decisions that help the city grow," he said.

Agnes Byrne called in to ask whether any thoughthas been given to putting something other than a downtown centre on the oldHighfield Square site.

"I was just wondering if anybody had ever considered turning that site in the centre of our city into a park, the wayNew York City did, they didn't do badly with Central Park."

Hicks agreed that council should givetaxpayers the opportunity to discuss the future of the downtown.

"They just said it'sthe downtown centre or nothing and we need to have vision, we need to think of the bigger picture," Hicks said.

"Is the downtown centre the only avenue to go? I don't think it is and I would love to have this debate to see what other options are out there."

However Lawrence believes there has been enough debate and it is time to move forward with what he considers a "solid" economic andbusiness proposition.

"I just think of the future, I have a 25-year-old son whoisliving in Ontarioand who I think would probably like to comeback but we have to take Monctonto that next step," he said. "I would bet you a nickel if we build this thing within a year Riverview will finally get its first hotel."

Hicks says with so many demands for funding,the city needs to conduct a survey ofcitizens and ask how much people would be willing to pay for a new centre.

"I think we need a taxpayers federation group in Moncton to counter the business people. Sure they want to make money but they're making it on the backs of taxpayers."