City council signed off on a plan Monday to spend $1.6 million to relocate the Prince George Tennis Club to a site directly northwest of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club clubhouse.
The plan calls for the construction of eight new tennis courts and an $800,000 upgrade to the existing clubhouse and curling facilities. CN Centre and community arenas manager Andy Beesley said the funding for the relocation will come directly from the sale of the existing tennis club site.
"This is the transition of the existing golf and curling club into a multisport facility," Beesley said.
"The proposal is for the tennis club to enter into a long-term agreement with the golf and curling club [for use of the clubhouse.]"
In addition to meeting the city's obligation to relocate the tennis club prior to selling its current location, Beesley said, it allows the city to ensure the curling facilities will be ready to host the
2015 Canada Winter Games.
If the golf and curling club were to relocate its golf course, the city has the option to purchase the clubhouse and parking lot for $1, Beesley added.
The city has signed a letter of intent to sell the tennis club's current location along with a section of land facing onto Highway 16, city real estate manager Ian Wells said.
The sale of the land is expected to result in net proceeds of $2.5 million to the city, according to a city report.
The $800,000 upgrade to the clubhouse includes upgrades to the curling ice plant, curling rink roof, HVAC system, washrooms, and interior and exterior finishing.
Tennis club director Rob Prideaux said the club has identified this as the best alternative for
relocation.
The project will allow the three sports - golf, tennis and curling -to benefit from economies of scale and shared operating costs, Prideaux said.
"The risks are almost certainly greater if the groups have separate, smaller facilities," he said. "This is exciting, not just for us, but for the curling people as well. This will mean we now have a quality facility to host the 2015 Canada Winter Games."
The tennis and golf and curling clubs now have to negotiate final agreements with each other and the city, and receive final approval from their members, he said.
The final agreements with the city will have to go back to city council for final approval, he said.
Once that happens, work can begin on building the new courts and upgrading the clubhouse, he said.
"Our hope would be we might have courts done by July," Prideaux said. "But that's just an
educated guess."
The long-term vision for the facility would include enclosed tennis courts for year-round tennis, badminton and other sports, he added.
Councillor concerns
Coun. Cameron Stolz raised concerns about the plan, particularly what happens if the golf course relocates or decides to close the
curling club.
"For the extra money we're putting into the ice plant, HVAC system... where is the guarantee for the community?" Stolz said. "In 2016, in theory, the curling club could shut down."
The golf club has been looking to sell its current location and relocate to a site on Foothills
Boulevard for years, he said.
City manager Derek Bates said the city will negotiate agreements with the Prince George Golf and Curling Club and Prince George Tennis Club, which include conditions on the $1.6 million city investment. "What happens beyond 2015 is anybody's guess," Coun. Lyn Hall said. "But we need the curling [for the 2015 Canada Winter Games,] so we're between a rock and a hard place."
In other council news ...
City council formed a committee to organize a 100th anniversary celebration for the city in 2015.
Coun. Lyn Hall and Murry Krause will represent city council on the committee, along with representatives of the Lheidli T'enneh, 2015 Canada Winter Games host society, Tourism Prince George, Enhance PG, Prince George and District Arts Council, Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Prince George Heritage Commission and the Prince George Community Foundation. Hall said the celebration will be integrally linked to hosting the 2105 Canada Winter Games.
"It certainly gives us an opportunity to showcase the city, not only for 2015, but for the next couple years," Hall said.
