Phase 1 Plan for Adaptive Reuse of Robert Bateman Site Unanimously Approved by Burlington Council
Once the full renovation of the Robert Bateman High School site is completed, it will provide 213,000 sq.-ft. of community space (118,723 sq.-ft. of net new community programming space), both community rental space and long-term paying tenants, plus greenspace.This will secure existing communities amenities under City ownership -- the pool and an expanded library -- that protects these in perpetuity.The community will also get access to three gyms and an additional 36,173 sq.-ft. in space for community rentals. I look forward to the consultation with the community in 2023 about what you’d like to see there. There is significant opportunity here for additional partnerships, sponsorship naming opportunities, and more. There will also be significant opportunities for the Deputy Mayors for Community Engagement & Partnerships and the Deputy Mayor for Recreation & Community Services assist with this opportunities.When Phases 1 and 2 of the redevelopment project are completed, this site will be the City of Burlington’s largest community centre, well bigger than our Tansley Woods community centre that sits at 60,000 sq.-ft.We have heard from some in the community concerns regarding asbestos in the current building. At our Dec. 13 Burlington City Council meeting, we heard from City staff that the removal of asbestos is intended to take place in the initial stages of the demolition/construction process.The work on this upgraded facility is just the beginning of the community centres that our growing community needs. We will need community amenities and parks at each of our Major Transit Station Areas around our three GO stations, where the bulk of new growth assigned to us by the province will go.We already know our community centres and parks can’t meet current demands, so we are planning for the future - not just the next term of council but the next generation. I look forward to review of our parks and recreation master plan in 2023 and I encourage residents to get involved and tell us what new or expanded amenities you want us to invest in.There is a lot more to come and it’s an exciting time for our city. I’m looking forward to engaging with our community in these conversations.
Please click the links below for the staff report, staff presentation and a memo from City Manager Tim Commisso that helps breaks down the net new space Burlington will be getting with this project:
- Staff report: EICS-20-22 Robert Bateman Highschool Adaptive Re-Use Project
- Staff presentation: Staff presentation to EICS-20-22
- Memo from City Manager: EICS-20-22 Memorandum to Council -Bateman 22-12-09 from City Manager Tim Commisso Dec 12 2022
Here is the full motion that was unanimously approved by Council:Approve the overall proposed Phase 1 facility design/development program budget for the adaptive reuse of the Robert Bateman High School inclusive of the following major elements and gross cost estimates based on Class B design estimates:
| Base Building | |
| Phase 1 Base Building Construction | $41,700,000 |
| Design and Engineering/Other Soft Costs | $15,000,000 |
| Total Base Building Construction Cost | $56,700,000 |
| Recommended Energy Reduction Incentives | $5,250,000 |
| Total Recommended Base Building | $61,950,000 |
| Optional Enhanced Energy Incentives (subject to confirmation of Senior Government funding application) | $10,800,000 |
| Total Gross Construction Estimated Cost | $72,750,000 |
Approve the proposed Capital Financing Plan for the adaptive reuse of the Robert Bateman High School inclusive of the following:
| Proposed Net Capital Financing | |
| Tenant Direct Capital Contributions (Cash) | $7,100,000 |
| Non-Tax Supported Debt Financing | |
| Tenant recovery | $11,750,000 |
| Special Circumstance Debt (SCD) Financing | $4,000,000 |
| Tax Supported Debt Financing | $45,900,000 |
| Senior Government Funding (subject to confirmation by Senior Government) | $4,000,000 |
| Total Proposed Capital Financing | $72,750,000 |
Direct the Executive Director of Environmental, Infrastructure & Community Services to proceed with next steps for prequalification of General Contractor and tendering of the phase 1 construction contract in Q1-2023 for the renovation to the Robert Bateman Highschool into a community hub; andDirect the Executive Director of Environment Infrastructure and Community Services to report back in Q2 2023 on the process, timelines and estimated capital and operating costs related the Phase 2 facility development inclusive of the new City Community Center and other future community partner uses, the process for naming and branding inclusive of sponsorship opportunities of the new facility; andDirect the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer to report back in Q2-2023 with an update on the Multi-year Community Investment Plan (MCIP) inclusive of the capital costs, financing and estimated timelines for Phase 1 of this project, and consideration of a future Phase 2; andDirect the Director of Transit to report back in Q1 of 2023 on an integrated transit plan that includes site facilities, connections to the Go Transit and Burlington Transit networks and active transportation initiatives; andThat the City Manager report back by Council to verify the net new community space, retained space, and brand new community space through the Bateman project for both phase one and phase 2.RELATED LINK: