I know it’s election time and politically motivated posts that present a variation from the facts that work in some candidates favour are expected. However, it is important that residents have the real facts before they vote.
Specifically, some folks are telling a story about the Armoury and Niagara College contract that are not supported by the facts.
We Did Not ‘GIVE AWAY’ The Armoury…We Still Own It!
A few folks have stated – repeatedly – that the Town is “giving away” the Armoury. Well, that’s simply not true. The taxpayers of Aurora own the Armoury. Niagara College is leasing the Armoury and paying rent that we wouldn’t otherwise be receiving.
The Renovation Costs Have Not “DOUBLED”
Those same folks have stated – repeatedly – that the cost of renovations is ‘$5 million’ and that it’s ‘doubled in price’. Once again, that’s not true.
The Town purchased the Armoury in 2014 ‘as is’. The previous Council knew that given the Armoury’s age – over 150 years old – it would need significant repairs to bring the building up to code. The original ‘estimate’ for $2.3 million provided in the AECOM study was a ‘Class E’ estimate. It’s important to understand that a ‘Class E’ estimate is simply a ‘bare bones’ estimate to bring the building up to code without having any details on what the final renovation might look like. That’s an early baseline figure that is subject to change – often substantially – once the detailed design is presented.
Once the detailed designs came in, Council approved a budget of $5 million to put the renovation out to tender. The tender came back and was approved at $ 4.1 million! So in fact, Council found savings of $900,000 when Council approved renovations of $4.1 million, not $5 million.
$4.1 million is not ‘double’ of $2.3 million and it certainly isn’t the $5 million price tag you keep hearing about.
Aurora Didn’t ‘GET A BAD DEAL’, It Gained a Post Secondary Institution!
There’s also been a lot of talk by a few folks that Aurora got a ‘bad deal’ with Niagara College. Again – this is absolutely not true.
The economic benefits of colleges and universities to local economies are well known. They bring jobs, they bring visitors to our businesses and restaurants and they increase property values. That’s why communities across the province fight to attract them.
They’re good for the community and they’re good investments.
The Conference Board of Canada reported, “…Every dollar spent on post secondary education creates $1.36 for the Canadian economy….they generate significant economic benefits to the communities and provinces where they are situated”. From Brampton to Guelph, Oshawa to Kitchener, past experience in other communities where colleges or universities have been located tells us that Aurora stands to gain millions of dollars of economic benefits from its lease agreement with Niagara College and investment in renovating the Armoury.
So what does Aurora get out of the deal?
A unique community space in a renovated, repurposed heritage building, as well as, millions in economic benefits due to our partnership with Canadian Food and Wine Institute of Niagara College – all in our downtown core.
That’s a great deal for Aurora. And that’s a fact!
