Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre (new)

The New Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre

We are building a new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre (HJCRC) in the heart of Central Lonsdale.

The new HJCRC embraces the City’s vision of A Healthy City for All, creating a welcoming, vibrant, social heart of the community. The new HJCRC will be located across the street from the existing facility, on the north side of 23rd Street East between Lonsdale Avenue and St Georges Avenue.  

Planning and pre-construction work to deliver the new HJCRC is underway.

Harry Jerome To Remain Open During Construction

Harry Jerome interior lobby

The current HJCRC will remain open until the construction of the new HJCRC is completed. The North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission (NVRC) will be working in December-January to update its service plan to include the current facility in their 2022 programming. NVRC will be in contact with stakeholder and user groups about opportunities to access the current facility during construction as soon as details are available.

The site of the current HJCRC will become home to a new development, a multi-phase project which will provide a variety of housing types, including leasehold condo, below-market/market rental, non-profit housing, and seniors assisted living. The latter phases are intended to include offices, retail space, residential housing, non-market housing and childcare on the existing recreation centre and Silver Harbour site.

Program and Service Planning for HJCRC is Underway

The North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission (NVRC) is in the process of planning a phased approach to offering programs and services at HJCRC in 2022.

We appreciate the community’s patience as NVRC works towards recruiting additional staff in a challenging labour market (NVRC is currently hiring!). In the interim, please make use of the wide range of programs and services offered at other community recreation centres throughout the North Shore. Information about 2022 programming at HJCRC will be shared with the public and posted on the NVRC as details are finalized. NVRC’s current winter program offerings and schedules for January-March 2022 are available by visiting nvrc.ca.


Design Elements

The development of a new state-of-the-art facility will deliver exceptional experiences, programs and services to all community members.

The community recreation centre will be home to a wide range of new and improved recreational, cultural and green space improvements including:

  • community atrium and gathering areas
  • ice arena with seating for 500 spectators
  • significantly more aquatic space
  • indoor and outdoor fitness spaces
  • full-size gymnasium
  • numerous multipurpose spaces
  • preschool and youth spaces
  • outdoor active/passive areas
  • art and cultural space
  • community kitchen
  • new skate park
  • nature play area
  • a multi-activity court

The new HJCRC’s sustainable design and building materials are key priorities to minimize the impact on the environment while improving building performance. The new community recreation centre will play a role in advancing the City’s Corporate Climate Action Plan by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with an energy savings of 53% from the National Energy Code for Buildings 2017 baseline. Currently, the HJCRC accounts for 29% of the City’s building greenhouse gas emissions.

Other sustainable efforts at the new recreation centre will include: 

  • maximizing heat recovery through C02 refrigeration;
  • a highly insulated building envelope;
  • maximizing rain-water re-use on site;
  • extensive natural daylight and passive solar strategies;
  • innovative low-energy pool filtration system; and,
  • electric vehicle and bike charging stations. 

Driven by the City’s vision of A Healthy City for All and guided by the City’s Community Recreation Strategy, the new HJCRC is focused on physical and mental wellness, inclusion, accessibility and diversity.

The new facility will create a barrier-free, accessible space for everyone and will achieve the gold standard in the the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program.

Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre
 

Video of New Community Recreation Centre Exterior & Interior

Amenities in the New Recreation Centre

The development of a new state-of-the-art facility will deliver exceptional experiences, programs and services to all community members.

The community recreation centre will be home to a wide range of new and improved recreational, cultural and green space improvements including:

  • community atrium and gathering areas
  • ice arena with seating for 500 spectators
  • significantly more aquatic space
  • indoor and outdoor fitness spaces
  • full-size gymnasium
  • numerous multipurpose spaces
  • preschool and youth spaces
  • outdoor active/passive areas
  • art and cultural space
  • community kitchen
  • new skate park
  • nature play area
  • a multi-activity court

Sustainable Design

The new HJCRC’s sustainable design and building materials are key priorities to minimize the impact on the environment while improving building performance. The new community recreation centre will play a role in advancing the City’s Corporate Climate Action Plan by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with an energy savings of 53% from the National Energy Code for Buildings 2017 baseline. Currently, the HJCRC accounts for 29% of the City’s building greenhouse gas emissions.

Other sustainable efforts at the new recreation centre will include: 

  • maximizing heat recovery through C02 refrigeration;
  • a highly insulated building envelope;
  • maximizing rain-water re-use on site;
  • extensive natural daylight and passive solar strategies;
  • innovative low-energy pool filtration system; and,
  • electric vehicle and bike charging stations. 

Accessible Design

Driven by the City’s vision of A Healthy City for All and guided by the City’s Community Recreation Strategy, the new HJCRC is focused on physical and mental wellness, inclusion, accessibility and diversity.

The new facility will create a barrier-free, accessible space for everyone and will achieve the gold standard in the the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program.

Design of the Recreation Centre

Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre
 

Video of New Community Recreation Centre Exterior & Interior

 

Project Details

The anticipated project timeline* is as follows:

  • Winter 2021 – Upgrades to underground utilities on East 23rd Street
  • 2022 – Site preparation and demolition work begins on HJCRC site to the north of 23rd Street East, between Lonsdale Avenue and St Georges Avenue
  • 2022 – Ground breaking for new HJCRC
  • 2025 – Anticipated opening date of new HJCRC
 

* Project timeline is subject to change due to construction schedule.

In order to make way for the new HJCRC and all the amenities that it will deliver to our community, the City must first demolish existing site components on the north side of 23rd Street East including the parking lot, skate park, and Norseman Field.

Roadwork around the facility will take place periodically throughout construction. Beginning in December 2021, upgrades to underground utilities including aging sewer, storm, and water mains are taking place along East 23rd Street between Lonsdale and St Georges.

As part of this work, overnight road closures will be required. Beginning Monday, January 17, 2022, the intersection at Lonsdale and 23rd Street will be closed 8pm-5am (note: originally scheduled for January 10 but delayed due to heavy rain). Overnight closures will occur for approximately two weeks during weekdays (Monday – Friday). Signage will be posted showing detours, and flag personnel will be on site to help keep traffic moving. See map for alternate routes. For project updates, visit cnv.org/roadwork.

23rd Street road closure map

The City is actively creating a new financing strategy that will allow the project to begin construction in 2022. Delivering this important project, while mitigating the financial impact on taxpayers, remains a key priority.

The total budget for HJCRC is $181,696,000 and for Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre is $23,437,000. 

Proceeds from the development of the Neighbourhood Lands are being used to help fund the redevelopment of the new HJCRC.  

Funding was also allocated from annual increases to the City’s operating budget which were implemented 2013-2017 for the HJCRC project - approximately 4% of the City’s property tax levy which provided $2.6M per year on an ongoing basis. $13.7M was also funded in previous capital budgets.

The HJCRC redevelopment project is being designed by HCMA Architecture + Design, which has delivered award-winning community recreation centre projects throughout the Lower Mainland and across Canada.

MAKE Project Management has been hired to manage the project, and Smith Bros & Wilson will be undertaking pre-construction services to inform the detailed design process.

Timeline

The anticipated project timeline* is as follows:

  • Winter 2021 – Upgrades to underground utilities on East 23rd Street
  • 2022 – Site preparation and demolition work begins on HJCRC site to the north of 23rd Street East, between Lonsdale Avenue and St Georges Avenue
  • 2022 – Ground breaking for new HJCRC
  • 2025 – Anticipated opening date of new HJCRC
 

* Project timeline is subject to change due to construction schedule.

Site Preparation & Demolition

In order to make way for the new HJCRC and all the amenities that it will deliver to our community, the City must first demolish existing site components on the north side of 23rd Street East including the parking lot, skate park, and Norseman Field.

Roadwork

Roadwork around the facility will take place periodically throughout construction. Beginning in December 2021, upgrades to underground utilities including aging sewer, storm, and water mains are taking place along East 23rd Street between Lonsdale and St Georges.

As part of this work, overnight road closures will be required. Beginning Monday, January 17, 2022, the intersection at Lonsdale and 23rd Street will be closed 8pm-5am (note: originally scheduled for January 10 but delayed due to heavy rain). Overnight closures will occur for approximately two weeks during weekdays (Monday – Friday). Signage will be posted showing detours, and flag personnel will be on site to help keep traffic moving. See map for alternate routes. For project updates, visit cnv.org/roadwork.

23rd Street road closure map

Financing

The City is actively creating a new financing strategy that will allow the project to begin construction in 2022. Delivering this important project, while mitigating the financial impact on taxpayers, remains a key priority.

The total budget for HJCRC is $181,696,000 and for Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre is $23,437,000. 

Proceeds from the development of the Neighbourhood Lands are being used to help fund the redevelopment of the new HJCRC.  

Funding was also allocated from annual increases to the City’s operating budget which were implemented 2013-2017 for the HJCRC project - approximately 4% of the City’s property tax levy which provided $2.6M per year on an ongoing basis. $13.7M was also funded in previous capital budgets.

Project Partners

The HJCRC redevelopment project is being designed by HCMA Architecture + Design, which has delivered award-winning community recreation centre projects throughout the Lower Mainland and across Canada.

MAKE Project Management has been hired to manage the project, and Smith Bros & Wilson will be undertaking pre-construction services to inform the detailed design process.

 

Project Background

For the past several years, the City has engaged with stakeholders and the public regarding the direction and scope of the HJCRC program.

Timeline of recent Council direction:

  • November 22, 2021 - Council directs staff to keep the current centre open until the new one is complete.
  • April 12, 2021 – Council approves a new design for Harry Jerome.
  • January 2021 - City announced it will align the delivery of the new facility with the development of the surrounding Harry Jerome Neighbourhood Lands to mitigate financial risk.
  • March 2020 - Council directed staff to redesign Harry Jerome based on the prioritization process of the City’s Community Recreation Strategy. 
  • February 2020 - The Community Recreation Strategy – “A Healthy City for All – The Role of Community Recreation” was endorsed by Council at the February 24 meeting. 
  • May 2019 - The deferred report was received and filed at the May 13 Council meeting. Staff were directed to undertake a Community Recreation Strategy, inclusive of HJCRC and associated projects.
  • March 2019 - A report outlining potential cost reductions and risk mitigation measures was brought forward for Council’s consideration. The report was deferred at the March 4, 2019 Council meeting.
  • November 2018 - Council requested that staff consider additional risk mitigation and cost containing strategies for the HJCRC project.
  • July 2018 - Council directed staff to proceed with detailed design and refined costing of the HJCRC facility and program. 

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017 & Earlier

Project Background Timeline

For the past several years, the City has engaged with stakeholders and the public regarding the direction and scope of the HJCRC program.

Timeline of recent Council direction:

  • November 22, 2021 - Council directs staff to keep the current centre open until the new one is complete.
  • April 12, 2021 – Council approves a new design for Harry Jerome.
  • January 2021 - City announced it will align the delivery of the new facility with the development of the surrounding Harry Jerome Neighbourhood Lands to mitigate financial risk.
  • March 2020 - Council directed staff to redesign Harry Jerome based on the prioritization process of the City’s Community Recreation Strategy. 
  • February 2020 - The Community Recreation Strategy – “A Healthy City for All – The Role of Community Recreation” was endorsed by Council at the February 24 meeting. 
  • May 2019 - The deferred report was received and filed at the May 13 Council meeting. Staff were directed to undertake a Community Recreation Strategy, inclusive of HJCRC and associated projects.
  • March 2019 - A report outlining potential cost reductions and risk mitigation measures was brought forward for Council’s consideration. The report was deferred at the March 4, 2019 Council meeting.
  • November 2018 - Council requested that staff consider additional risk mitigation and cost containing strategies for the HJCRC project.
  • July 2018 - Council directed staff to proceed with detailed design and refined costing of the HJCRC facility and program. 

Background Documents

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017 & Earlier



Contact Information

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