City agrees to buy Saskatoon YMCA for proposed downtown arena district
CTV
The City of Saskatoon has agreed to purchase the downtown YMCA building with plans to demolish it if council proceeds with a downtown event and entertainment district.
The City of Saskatoon has agreed to purchase the downtown YMCA building with plans to demolish it if council proceeds with a downtown event and entertainment district.
More than 100 city staff, advisors and delegates filled a convention room at TCU Place Thursday morning for an unveiling of the design concepts of the district.
"To me, this isn't a nice to have," Coun. Cynthia Block said. "I worry what will happen if we don't do this project."
The roughly 40-minute program resembled a pep rally as multiple speakers spoke about the positive impacts the proposed legacy project could have for the city and province as images of the concepts were displayed on walls on the building.
As that event was happening, and agenda for next week's governance and priorities committee posted to the city's website show two preferred options for the proposed convention centre at the heart of the district. Both options involve buying and demolishing the YMCA's location at 22nd Street for just over $8.5 million.
"Negotiations with the YMCA for acquisition of the 25 - 22nd Street East property have been completed and a conditional purchase/sale agreement has been arrived at between the parties," a city report said.
If the committee approves the purchase, the city will have spent more than $30 million on five properties surrounding the proposed district.
