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This month, after Cambridge canceled its plan to build a sports multiplex at the Cambridge Centre Mall, CBC K-W put together a timeline showing how this project unfolded over several years.
2019
February 2019: City drops plans for Cambridge Centre site
The City of Cambridge passed a motion ending the plan to build the multiplex at Cambridge Centre Mall. Staff said it was too expensive and were asked to find cheaper locations and report back by March 5.
2018
August 2018: No news from city
CBC K-W reached out to the City of Cambridge for an update on the multiplex but heard nothing new from council.
2017
December 2017: Multiplex set for Cambridge Centre Mall
The city council voted in favor of putting the non-aquatic part of the multiplex at Cambridge Centre Mall.
This became popular after Sears Canada announced it would close its store there. The plan included three ice rinks (including one that already exists), three gymnasiums, plus walking and running tracks and space for a sports hall-of-fame.
October 2017: Council agrees to split multiplex into two spots
Council decided to divide the multiplex between two facilities. Around then, the idea of using part of former Sears at Cambridge Centre came up again since the Chamber of Commerce had mentioned over a year earlier that Sears’ future was unsure.
Mayor Doug Craig said splitting things would save money because they could use part of Sears’ old space without building extra parking at the mall.
The taskforce ranked six locations based on certain criteria. 1001 Franklin Blvd. was removed from the list because it is already leased to a company that runs a sports facility, including ice pads. (Report to council)
March 2017: Proposals suggest multiple sites
A new idea floated splitting the multiplex between two places – gyms and pool in one spot, ice rinks in another.
This multi-site option was talked about during a meeting where councilors also went over work done analyzing five proposed locations for sports facilities.
January 2017: Mayor involved with task force questioned but cleared
A resident complained in September 2016 through ADR Chambers (Toronto-based integrity commissioner office) that Mayor Doug Craig shouldn’t sit on the multiplex task force due to procedural rules.
The city’s integrity commissioner found no rule violations by Craig being on that task force.
Residents and other stakeholders met with this task force giving feedback about their top five location choices.
2016
December 2016: Task force picks top five spots for complex
The city’s multiplex task force revealed their top five potential sites. Two tied for first place were 220 Pinebush Road and 261 Hespeler Road – an old industrial spot formerly home to Grand River Flea Market.
The third choice was 112 Pinebush Road, followed by Franklin Boulevard and Savage Drive; fifth place went to 850 Fountain Street South.
May 2016: City looks elsewhere after backlash over Conestoga College site
The City decided against going ahead with Conestoga College as residents felt it mostly served south Kitchener instead of Cambridge itself.
Council said no final decision about where exactly will happen until late September at earliest.
March 2016: Councilor wants anything but Conestoga campus
Councillor Nicholas Ermeta told CBC K-W he wanted their new sports complex built anywhere except Conestoga College – even though council had already chosen that location earlier; he called it “unacceptable” as site for their new facility.
2015
August 2015:
The public pushed back against plans for partnership between city and Conestoga College regarding building plexes.
April 2015:
Council told staff go ahead drafting partnership deal with college about constructing plexes.
2014
In between years of 20-14 -15 :
Staff did recreational master planning which recommended building brand-new multi-purpose sport facility.
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