‘HAIL MARY’
Prospects aren’t good for building, but public gets one more chance to weigh in
Council offers faint hope for Coliseum
City council offered a thin thread of a lifeline Thursday to the Coliseum, asking administration to look at issuing a formal request for proposals that could include demolition or a new use for the building.
“Hail Mary. There might be someone out there that has an idea that wouldn’t infringe on those (downtown arena) agreements,” said Coun. Tony Caterina.
City officials believe previous council votes to permanently close the structure have already shut that door, especially since the Rogers Place agreement with the Katz Group prohibits further use for sports or entertainment.
Operated by Northlands since 1974, the Coliseum will be transferred to the city and close on Jan. 1. Northlands is planning a free farewell weekend with a hockey game, public skate and multicultural round dance for the weekend of Dec. 15-17.
“It’s ‘pray for the Coliseum’ at this point,” agreed Mayor Don Iveson, saying in his mind there is no alternative that has an economically viable use for a cavernous, asbestosriddled, 44-year-old building.
Council was told it will cost $1.5 million a year to maintain and secure the shuttered facility, and at least $15 million to demolish it. But Thursday’s vote represents a win for anyone with a nostalgic attachment to the spot where the Edmonton Oilers won five Stanley Cups.
The public gets one more chance to weigh in with their ideas at a committee meeting in the new year. A report to be released before that meeting will outline the legal constraints on the building and property, including a recent deal with the Katz Group to cancel the city’s $2-million annual sponsorship in exchange for shutting the facility.
At that point, council members will vote on whether to issue a request for proposals, either with the stipulation that a new owner must demolish the structure or not. Selling the land and building could transfer the risk to a third party, who would be responsible to develop the site in line with whatever is adopted through public consultation as the area redevelopment plan.
New councillors Tim Cartmell and Aaron Paquette also argued for the lifeline, saying they were under the impression demolition or repurposing were still open questions.
“A 150,000-square-foot structure and the bones of the building have nothing wrong with them (and) is really expensive to replace. It is an asset right now today,” said Cartmell.