A major cornerstone of Surrey鈥檚 emerging downtown civic precinct will no longer proceed after a public-private partnership to build a recreation facility has fallen through due to stated escalating construction costs.
YMCA of Greater 麻豆传媒映画announced Wednesday its plan to build the Surrey City Centre YMCA is no more, after costs climbed from an estimated $40 million to $75 million.
The facility was to be situated on Simon Fraser University land adjoined to a new condo development. The City of Surrey and YMCA committed in 2017 to contribute $20 million each for the facility, according to the YMCA statement.
鈥淎ll three partners have been deeply committed to advancing this innovative project to benefit SFU students and the Surrey City Centre community,鈥� said YMCA President and CEO, Stephen Butz. 鈥淯nfortunately, over the past few years, construction costs have increased dramatically throughout the region to the point that this particular project is no longer feasible.鈥�
This is the fourth significant recreation facility in Surrey that has been mothballed in the past two years. Since 2018, city council has postponed funding for the Cloverdale Sport and Ice Complex, a community centre in Grandview Heights and a performing arts space.
The YMCA facility was to pick up programming left off by the shuttering of the old North Surrey Recreation Centre.
Mayor Doug McCallum issued a brief statement via the YMCA, suggesting existing facilities can nevertheless do the same.
鈥淭he City of Surrey remains committed to providing recreation opportunities to the residents in North Surrey through the provision of a diverse range of programs at our existing facilities,鈥� said McCallum.
McCallum has been reticent to borrow money for recreation facilities, citing concerns about debt and keeping property taxes low.
McCallum resumed his 鈥減ay-as-you-go鈥� financing philosophy he had implemented in his previous nine years as mayor when he and a majority backing him on council assumed office in October 2018.
This resulted in postponing $135 million in capital projects that were to be paid for through borrowing.
And so, since Surrey has among the lowest capital reserves in the province, it remains unclear what city hall could do to save the YMCA facility and still leverage the $20 million in private funding, if council remains reticent to borrow money from the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C., to make up for the $35 million shortfall, or shift its spending priorities.
The latter option is what two councillors are calling for.
Couns. Jack Hundial and Brenda Locke of Surrey Connect issued a video outlining how Surrey is far behind neighbouring municipalities in providing recreation centres and ice rinks on a per capita basis.
Despite initially campaigning with and becoming elected alongside McCallum, Hundial and Locke have stated in the past they鈥檇 be willing to increase taxes for specific projects if it means improving access to recreation for residents.
The two councillors also renewed their call to cancel the $45 million police force transition, which is ongoing and has already seen the city spend over $5 million in this year鈥檚 first quarter.
Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman expressed disappointment in the YMCA cancellation.
鈥淭he YMCA was meant to be an example of a centre of community within Downtown Surrey that could have provided great value and partnerships to youth, families, education, adults, seniors, and of course businesses,鈥� said Huberman.
