Thunder Bay Sign -Acadia Broadcasting Files

Jumbo Gardens is set to close as a community centre as of December 31, 2023, as per council’s instruction.

City administration has successfully secured a tenant to take over the Jumbo Gardens facility under a lease that will begin on January 1, 2024.

The new lease will provide a home base for a community non-profit sports organization, while the current primary user group, the Spinners & Weavers Guild will continue to occupy the lower level of the facility.

City administration has highlighted other benefits beyond groups that will call the building home.

By converting the building to a leased city asset the city will avoid annual operating and capital costs, it will add continued potential for use by other groups through the tenant, potential for the increased use of surrounding play fields, and there will be no impact on the associated rink that is serviced from the building.

The new Lease model will eliminate the entire Recreation & Culture Division’s annual operating budget of $31,400 net for this facility. Any ongoing building-specific facility services operating costs will be directly offset by rent and recovery charges to the tenant. The new model will reduce the forecasted average annual capital renewal costs of $22,977.

The only planned capital renewal work in the next 5 years is the fire alarm system in 2025. The revised capital estimate to maintain the facility in fair condition under a lease agreement over the next 5 years is under $5,000 per year.

By leasing out the space the city has avoided negatively impacting user groups, as well as the potential of the property being left vacant.

The savings target of $10,000 identified by council will be exceeded in 2024, and administration will report to council as necessary with any recommendations regarding the future of this facility.