In August of 2016, a staff working group was tasked to examine the state of the current Township Administrative Office. The purpose of this group was to identify the components of the office building that worked well, those that needed updates or repairs, and those that simply did not serve the current and future operational needs of the building and its staff. Staff identified several items of major concern through this study.
As directed by Council Resolution 2016.21.9, Staff conducted an analysis of twenty-five (25) potential sites at various locations within Township according to a specific criterion. The results of this analysis suggested that sites located in the vicinity of Amherst Drive and Speers Boulevard in Amherstview would be well suited to accommodate a new municipal office.
At the July 9, 2018 Council Meeting, Council approved a report that granted Township Staff the authority to enter into negotiations with MJMA for the Design of a Sustainable Community Hub. The Feasibility Study and Master Plan developed by MJMA for the proposed Community Centre began with a qualitative systems assessment of the existing W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre. The elements presented in the Feasibility Study include the recreation facilities recommended in the Township’s Parks and Recreations Master Plan, a municipal office which would house Township Staff, and the amenities desired by the County. This allowed the consultant to determine if the proposed facilities could, in principle, be accommodated on the site.
At the May 17, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting, a report from the Chief Administrative Officer, re: Hub Project Update, was received; and the Committee of the Whole recommended to Loyalist Township Council the following actions:
- That $150,000 be transferred from the Hub capital reserve, and $206,000 from the project “carry over” to be used for the first phase of schematic drawings at the total cost of $354,816;
- That staff be authorized to submit a grant application under the Federal funding program – Green & Inclusive Community Buildings;
- That staff investigate the Green Municipal Fund financial program through FCM for the Hub project;
- That staff further investigate funding opportunities through partnerships with other municipalities, organizations and fundraising.
In 2017, the Township completed a comprehensive 10-year Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The resulting Master Plan was the outcome of a comprehensive stakeholder consultation, population growth forecasts and trends in parks and recreation services. Several recommendations which pertained to the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre in the Master Plan emerged from the Public Consultation process.
The recommendations in the Master Plan also referenced the opportunity to include a potential new municipal office on the site of the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre, along with space for partnering agencies.
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Community Hub staff reports |
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