Resident Reminds Council Natatorium Important To Preserve
A citizen who regularly speaks at Council, on various subject matters, once again saw a presentation received and filed but not before the presentation drew attention to the issue.
Speaking before Council local resident Michel Labonte said he would like to see Council consider spending money on the Natatorium. The building, a heritage site, has sat largely unused for the last 25 years with the construction of the indoor pool at the Kinsmen Sportsplex.
“I think I owe it to you and to the community to share my love I have for that place,” he said.
The Natatorium, commonly referred to as the Nat, has been used for the last 25 years as cold storage as well as its mechanical room and change rooms are used for the adjacent Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool.
“I have been here maybe 20 years and I passed this building. It is a curse on me as I live so close and I pass by there. It is so nice to see the building used in the summer but the rest of the season for 20 years nothing. I wish there was something (going on) at that building that will stimulate the Downtown economy but also help the heritage we have,” Labonte said.
“What I am looking at is if we could at least have the floor where the pool was with a nice balcony that goes to the park with wheelchair access…let’s look at this building that we have am I going to walk for another 20 years and seeing the ghost of this building or we going to have a very low budget (to make use of the Nat),” he said.
Labonte said the City should look at groups who might be able to make use of a revitalized and renovated Natatorium during such things as festivities. He asked Council to take a look at getting a grant application underway to revitalize the Nat.
“We could do a lot of things. If we don’t offer the place it will be difficult to enjoy what we have.”
“If we could have something that could create a litle bit of energy there, momentum there,” Labonte said, adding “If we invest a little bit of money I know it is not going to make a good return in terms of money but on terms of emotional and spiritual energy it would bring some kind of life in the park.”
Labonte said he would personally favour a two or three year property tax levy of $20 or a little more to make restoring the Natatorium to some extent but it should be asked in a question to residents in the upcoming civic election.
As part of his presentation Labonte presented a letter calling for five things to be done in relation to the Nat.
Five Things Needed To Done
Get an appraisal on the cost to have the old Natatorium concrete pool (including the old floor around the pool) demolished and solidify the foundation and basement wall where necessary.
Get an appraisal of how much would it cost to have a new floor installed over the area where the pool was and build an adequate entrance at the back with proper balcony and wheel chair access. Costs could be kept down by re-using components from the YMCA building next door.
Apply for grant funding from the Federal and Provincial Heritage Ministers to create a new gathering place adding a positive added value for the Downtown economy and history for a long time to come.
Hold a referendum as part of the upcoming November civic elections to allow people to vote on the project as well as a special levy to help pay for the project.
Consider putting off the demolition of the empty YMCA building and investigate if its restoration could not compliment the Nat’s restoration.
Council’s Response
Mayor Fraser Tolmie thanked “Mr Labonte for coming up and stimulating conversation for something we are looking at in our community.”
Councillor Brian Swanson pointed out that the Natatorium has been vacant for 25 years as the “new pool” at the Kinsmen Sportsplex had a new roof put on it 25 years ago but soon it may also need repair to protect the historic building.
“The Natatorium has sat for 25 years and in a community that espouses heritage as one of its main features it is kind of a telling sign the Natatorium sits there year after year, after year…it is worth mentioning the Natatorium has sat there for 25 years now and it is not on our capital budget anywhere,” Councillor Swanson said, adding “it is good that we are reminded that building sits there and there are no plans for it.”
In a unanimous 7 - 0 vote Labonte’s presentation was received and filed.