Two designs for a boathouse at Long Lake are before council, with Nanaimo's finance committee meeting recommending the cheaper $6.5-million option over a $10.8-million design.
The build would replace Loudon Park's existing boathouse and washrooms, which user groups say are ill-equipped to meet the needs of rowers, paddlers and other park visitors.
"Some immediate needs, of course, are the safe, covered and secure equipment storage, our indoor training and meeting space for inclement weather and event hosting, and improvements to the park for greater accessibility and inclusive programming," said Ashley Rowe, Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club commodore, speaking to the committee at a meeting Wednesday, March 19.
She explained that out of all Nanaimo's bodies of water, Long Lake is the ideal location for canoe and kayak racing.
"It does allow motorboats, which we need as our safety boat on the water – Westwood Lake doesn't allow powerboats," Rowe said. "We looked at Westwood Lake in the past, but we're really stuck because we need that 1,000-metre distance for a race course. It's centrally located, it's close to bus stops. it's close to walking paths, bicycle paths – it's the ideal location for this type of activity."
The $6.5-million option is currently at a schematic stage and features two separate buildings. The first building is described in a staff report as primarily a pre-engineered steel warehouse-style facility for boat storage with a timber-frame component for club space. The second building is a timber-frame structure with accessible public washrooms built in the location of the existing public washrooms.
The alternative design is approximately 40 per cent smaller than the primary design, as it only addresses the basic needs. The $10.8-million version would have had a gross floor area of 10,500 square feet and included architectural features such as mass timber, a curved roof and glazing throughout. Approximately 29 trees would have to be removed to accommodate the larger design, as opposed to 15 in the alternative.
At Wednesday's finance meeting, Coun. Hilary Eastmure moved the motion to recommend the cheaper $6.5-million option to council.
"I'm confident if we were to move [the alternative design] as it stands today we would be able to work and finesse that so it works for everyone's needs, preserves a large chunk of the park for public use and then really addresses the critical needs which is the washroom and the safe boat storage," Eastmure said. "[The alternative design] gets us to doing something quickly on this, we've delayed this for so many years."
Coun. Janice Perrino seconded the recommendation, although she recognized "it's not perfect."
"Let's just get the shovel in the ground to get these people what they need, what they deserve," she said. "The size is smaller, the price is less but maybe the groups can do some more fundraising. It will be nice to see some improvements."
Coun. Ben Geselbracht, who previously advocated to further explore alternative designs, said a positive about the alternative option is it allows the immediate needs to be met.
"It rebuilds much-needed bathrooms, it addresses issues currently with the park and it addresses space needs with the paddling group and it does not close the door on expanding the park and further builds to put more community space," he said.
Kate Rutherford, with the Nanaimo Rowing Club, spoke on behalf of the Long Lake Flatwater Training Centre Society, a group working toward the creation of a new training facility at Long Lake. She told councillors that while there were ways of making both options work, the cheaper choice would result in a lack of community space at the site.
"For getting the boats to the water, both options work," Rutherford said. "The city would be lacking, I think, what was a large rent hall space for the community where they could have weddings, meetings, etc."
Mayor Leonard Krog was the sole vote in opposition, arguing that the city should be building something for longevity, rather than "basically a large tin shed."
"We're not ever going to create another Long Lake. This is the only place in the future that we will ever see this kind of use – kayakers, boaters, etc. – all the user groups that are currently active and have presented to us this morning," the mayor said. "This facility, even the No. 1 option which I strongly support, will in time probably prove inadequate in terms of size unless the city acquires more land around Loudon Park, as it will eventually."
Before the finance committee's recommendation can go ahead, council will need to direct staff to increase the project budget by about $1.9 million, funded from the special initiatives reserve. There is currently $4.7 million in the budget for the project.
