The City of North Vancouver is required to restructure the new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre project and the redevelopment of the surrounding Neighbourhood Lands. This will allow the current facility to remain open while the new recreation centre moves forward.
The overall project includes a new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre (HJCRC) and the redevelopment of City-owned property, referred to as the Neighbourhood Lands, for a mix of housing, commercial space and community amenities.
The first phase of the Neighbourhood Lands redevelopment is currently underway and includes a rental housing development led by Darwin Properties and Minto Group, as well as a seniors residential care facility led by Sunrise North.
The City has terminated its offer to lease for the second phase of the Neighbourhood Lands which was to include offices, retail space, market and non-market housing on the existing recreation centre site. The land transaction for phase two, which was scheduled to take place January 31, 2022, will no longer take place as a result of the developer deciding to not meet a key contractual term of the agreement.
“This project has been many years in the making and the City remains committed to delivering a new state-of-the-art recreation centre located within a vibrant, healthy and walkable community,” said Mayor Linda Buchanan. “Adopting appropriate financial risk mitigation measures has proven to be the right decision for the City to keep the delivery of a new centre moving forward. I am pleased that we remain on track to begin construction in mid-2022 despite recent challenges and that we are now able to keep the existing facility open as we do so.”
The City remains committed to developing this critical piece of public land to add much-needed housing and community services to the neighbourhood and will be considering all procurement options for the phase two lands.
Planning and pre-construction work to deliver the new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre remains underway. The City is creating a new financing strategy that will allow the recreation centre project to begin construction in 2022 while mitigating financial risk to taxpayers.
“This is one of the largest project the City has ever undertaken and staff are well underway with planning and pre-construction work for the new recreation centre,” said Leanne McCarthy, the City’s Chief Administrative Officer.
City Council has directed staff to keep the community centre open until the new HJCRC is completed. The North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission will be working over the coming weeks to update its service plan to include the current HJCRC in their 2022 programming.
The Commission will be in contact with stakeholder and user groups about opportunities to access the current facility during construction of the new centre. Information about 2022 programming at HJCRC will be shared with the public as soon as details are finalized.
Background
The current HJCRC was constructed in 1966 and is reaching the end of its useful life. The new facility will be located on the north side of 23rd Street East between Lonsdale Avenue and St. Georges Avenue.
The new centre will include an arena with a 500-spectator capacity, more aquatic space, indoor and outdoor fitness amenities, preschool and youth spaces and a new facility for Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre.
Proceeds from the development of the Neighbourhood Lands are being used to help fund the redevelopment of the new HJCRC, which will provide a vibrant, social heart to the community.
For more information visit cnv.org/hjcrc.