Greater Sudbury council now considers itself a strong supporter of the northern school of architecture.
Retired local architect Blaine Nicholls, chair of the expert committee investigating the feasibility of the 18th school of architecture in Canada, gave an impressive hour-long presentation of why the city should be the first level of government to support the project.
Nicholls said the school, while requiring a significant initial capital investment of $35 million, would be funded on an ongoing basis by tuition fees from students, from the Ontario government and other funding agencies as it would be part of Laurentian University.
This is similar to the medical school. There would be significant tax revenues ($500,000) for the city after only two years, a tremendous boost for the downtown core and all of northern Ontario.
Nicholls said it is time northern Ontario took a cue from northern European countries and stopped exporting simple products like two by four lumber or wood chips.
“Finland and Sweden add value to their products. They make furniture and advanced technological items like cell phones. All that requires a culture of design. This school is all about design. We will have more designers on the ground here."
Just like the medical school, the curriculum will be structured to support innovative programs all over the north, he said.
Lorella Hayes, Greater Sudbury financial officer and treasurer, said the tax hit on residents to pay for the city's contribution, would be $20 per year for a house assessed at $180,000, or $1.66 per month.
“This tax increase for that householder, $1.66 per month, will not break anyone,” said Ward 5 Coun. Ron Dupuis.
Most councillors voted in favour, despite a few misgivings. The city will find $1 million in its budget to contribute that amount each year over the next ten years.
Ward 6 Coun. Andre Rivest said his priorities continued to be roads and seniors housing, and indicated he would rather a wait a year to support the project.
Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan, while earlier in the week indicated that he was concerned about another costly proposal coming to council just as the budget process was about to begin, also voted in favour.
“We would be foolhardy not to take advantage of this project. Senior levels of government view this project favourably. This city has to find the money for its contribution,” said Callaghan.
Ward 7 Coun. Russ Thompson said the project meant jobs and would a ways to reduce out migration of youth.
“We already have the northern school of medicine. This is another piece in the puzzle for Laurentian University,” said Thompson.
