Time for a sober second thought in light of a new reality.
In 2017, Council made a decision regarding the KED based on a set of known facts and assumptions made at that time. Fast forward to 2021, and 3 ½ years later we find ourselves living in a much different world.
Due to a number of events, not the least of which are the impacts of COVID-19, things have shifted dramatically. The city entered into a partnership to develop an Entertainment District on the Kingsway.
One of those partners, Gateway Casinos, is now experiencing, notwithstanding its best efforts, difficulties that will at best significantly delay and at worst, end their contribution to the KED completely.
This information alone suggests that we need to reevaluate the project.
If the same 2017 Event Centre reports were to come to Council today, I believe the discussion and vote would be much different.
Knowing what we know now, I don’t see how we could proceed with a project that is so dependent on outside factors that, at best, demonstrate the project may need to be delayed indefinitely.
I firmly believe the people of Greater Sudbury deserve, and we as a community are worthy of, a new event centre. This issue has been debated, explored and discussed for many, many years, and waiting longer is not an option in my view.
Some might say, don’t build it at all given the current economic climate. I respectfully disagree with that view. We as a local government need to send the signal that we are willing to invest in our community and that we have confidence in our economic future.
The development of an event centre is a multi-year project, and if we start now and in the right way, we will be able to hit the ground running at full speed when we are through COVID and into an economic recovery phase.
Doing nothing is not an option that I think is responsible for any government when it comes to key investments in our community.
The financial pressures we are currently facing as a city due to COVID-19 are on the operating side of the budget, not the capital portion, so not proceeding with the new event centre will do nothing to offset those operating budget pressures today.
What it would do is signal that we are in “turtle mode” and not willing to invest in our city going forward. What kind of signal is that to send to potential outside future investors?
If we lack the confidence to invest in ourselves, then why should we expect anyone else to invest in us as a community?
The bottom line is that things have changed significantly since the original decision was made.
I understand and respect the fact that the partners involved in the project have done everything they can to see this project move forward and I do not doubt for a moment the shared desire that we all want a prosperous city.
But, notwithstanding best intentions and efforts, the reality is that because a main entertainment district partner is experiencing challenges, we as a community are now stuck in a holding pattern on this project.
That is never a good position to be in if our desire is to deliver results for our city.
It is now very clear that realizing the full benefits of the KED will take years or perhaps over a decade or longer to materialize in any meaningful way. If we want the biggest and best bang for our dollar we need to consider building a new event centre where we can control the timeline and get moving on it sooner rather than later.
This approach can lead to a real and controlled development timeline and will create a return on investment almost immediately, as a result of the increased value of existing development.
This can be a win-win scenario but only if we are willing to take the blinders off and look at the decision through today’s set of circumstances.
It is my belief that the unbiased answer becomes clear when you look at the realities of today that did not exist in 2017.
Pursuing the concept of the Kingsway Entertainment District any further at this point is not the right option for the citizens of Greater Sudbury.
