Council approves sale of old arena

In addition, proper road access will be created to accommodate the berm in the area.

It’s an exciting move for Council, who wants to further develop the area.

“I think our community prides itself on having a great river valley,” says counillor Jamie McIntosh. “But there’s parts of our river valley that needs to be developed and this is step one in seeing something that could eventually be outstanding for our city.”

McIntosh has a vision for what the area could look like.

“I would love to see this entire area with people living down there, with some restaurants, accessibility to the river,” he says.

Mayor Ted Clugston agrees.

“I think, with the berms there now, it’s one of the most beautiful places in town to live if you could get a couple stories up to see over the trees and see the river and then have all the recreation features, like the berms, because they’ve become pathways,” says Clugston.

While the city will be injecting a substantial amount of money, NewRock is still required to demolish the current building. That’s projected to cost $3 million.

In addition, it will be taking some financial burden off the City’s shoulders.

“People think ‘oh it’s vacant, it’s not costing the city anything’ but of course we have to have insurance on the building for liability, someone hurts them self,” says Clugston.

He says it will be positive to get rid of those costs.

“We have to keep it somewhat heated, so it doesn’t freeze up and those kinds of things, so there’s been some costs that will come off the books as well.”

NewRock is also required to complete any environmental or geotechnical assessments, development planning, testing or analysis of the property.

The Medicine Hat arena has been a tough sell for developers, due to contamination within the property.

As a result, the Brownfield Tax Incentive will be applied to the land, exempting NewRock from $400,000 in future property taxes.

The program has already been applied to 603 First Street, which was recently purchased by two local men with plans to build a boutique hotel.

It’s currently unknown what NewRock plans on building on the property, but a condition of the sale is to rezone it to medium density residential.

NewRock also focuses on residential structures, such as Southlands Gate condos two years ago.

NewRock is required to complete demolition within one year, and construction of their new development within three, or the City has the option of buying back the property.

by Jessie Weisner

Council approves sale of old arena

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