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Originally Posted by Bob Bratina
We now see the realities with respect to cost, and sustainability. The business case makes a whole group of assumptions, including professional soccer. It also calls for $500,000 annual contribution to Capital Reserves. If you're familiar with City business you'll know that the annual deficit for infrastructure maintenance is $145 million dollars, giving our roads and facilities a grading of D minus.
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We pay annual capital cost towards IWS and we had to dig a little deeper last year because the lights broke down during a winter storm.
It's either spend $90 million or so for IWS, spend $60 million for a new stadium or get no stadium and kiss the Ti-Cats away. Fatal blow to Hamilton's civic pride.
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Originally Posted by Bob Bratina
The population of Hamilton as stated in the Consultants report is growing at well below the Provincial rate...2.9 per cent vs 4.6, and in the lower City, in actual decline. The question has to be asked, how can we support a "stadium entertainment precinct" and not harm existing Downtown businesses? Read the report.
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Inner Hamilton's population is declining because of the current state of infrastructure is not catching up. We now have a chance to further enhance the waterfront, increase commercial activity and increase the density with massive brownfield cleanup. That's beefing our infrastructure in the inner city. Try finding a time to ever get $100 something million towards our waterfront/Ward 2 again.
A waterfront stadium will push the province to bring GO Transit to the CN line at James St North. It'll push the case in the future for A-Line funding. It'll make a difference for the B-Line funding. Think of all the lost potentials by voting this stadium site down.
You as a councillor can alter the entertainment precinct with council and tweak the plan. That's better instead of voting against the stadium.
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Originally Posted by Bob Bratina
The hidden agenda includes the expenditure of over 80 million dollars to enhance the West Harbour area. Most visitors will tell you that except for perhaps a couple of restaurants or other affordable amenities, that area is functioning very well. The only situation that needs capital investment at this time is a deteriorating retaining wall near the Marine Police basin.
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Pretty sure that's the cost of the West Harbour Waterfront Recreation Master Plan. That issue is separate from the stadium and can be dealt with the Waterfront Trust for funding arrangement.
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Originally Posted by Bob Bratina
I have to simply dismiss the knee-jerk negative responses above, because those individuals have no clue as to what is contained in the Deloitte-Touche and Gowlings documentation. The Deloitte Touche information is available on the City of Hamilton Website under City Government/ agendas/ Committee of the Whole/ February 18th. The Gowlings document is still confidential, but I don't see anything in that which in my opinion should be held back from the public, especially the site preparation costs which total as much as $43 million dollars PRIOR to construction. Arguments will be made that this figure can be significantly lowered by avoiding full remediation. In any case no funding source is given beyond vague references to Federal, Provincial and private participation. The naming rights to this stadium site are given as $5 million dollars.
Please inform yourself before launching into hokey anonymous tirades.
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So since you believe the stadium can be built at the site without full remediation, which I also believe can be done as well just look at the General Hospital, why vote against the waterfront site entirely?
If you read the Deloitte-Touche document again you'll notice the land needed is bigger than the SJAM site.