Community stakeholders have begun meetings to provide input on the proposed Chatham-Kent Community Hub, which would see the municipality’s Civic Centre, library and museum all moved to one location.
A Stakeholder Engagement Group met for the first time on Monday to review initial draft designs of the first and second floor of the hub, which would be located in the former Sears department store in the Downtown Chatham Centre. Two more meetings are expected to take place before the summer to ensure feedback from the stakeholders is heard, considered, and reflected in the development of the Community Hub.
“As we move along the project timeline, we want to be sure that the voices of those using and working in these facilities are being heard,” said Edward Soldo, CK’s general manager of infrastructure and engineering. “This project has the potential to reshape our community, so we want to make sure we have community input throughout the process.”
The stakeholder group is made up of representatives from the CK Public Library Board, the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Municipal Museums Advisory Committee, and the Gallery Advisory Committee.
The Chatham-Kent Community Hub is a multi-year project that proposes amalgamating the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre, CK Public Library and CK Museum into the former Sears building.
As part of the first phase of the project, Chatham-Kent Council approved the purchase of the Sears portion of the Downtown Chatham Centre from 100 King Street CK Holdings Inc. in January, at a cost of $2.95 million.
Along with the establishment of the Stakeholder Engagement Group, the second phase of the project includes the creation of detailed concept designs, an updated cost estimate, and public engagement on the concept designs.
A progress report will then be presented to council for a decision on the continuation of the project. If approved, the third phase will include finalizing the designs, tendering costs, construction procurement, and pending further approval, the commencement of construction.
