With the City Council rejecting both the administration’s $215 million proposal for the Kingsway Entertainment District and an alternative proposal calling for a $150 million version, the long-debated project is dead pending further guidance
Greater Sudbury City Council was unanimous in rejecting the administration’s $215 million Kingsway Entertainment District proposal during today’s meeting.
It was the latest in a series of city council pass/no moments for the long-debated municipal arena/events center project, but the first time since its approval in 2017 that a majority of City Council members took a no position .
A proposal for a $150 million alternative project also failed. His two supporters, Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan and Ward 11 earl. Bill Leduc were alone in his support.
Sudbury.com will soon publish a more in-depth report on the events of the city council’s afternoon decision.
Although the project’s private partners, including Genesis Hospitality (hotel), Gateway Casinos (casino) and developer Dario Zulich, confirmed last week that they remain on board with the project, it remains to be seen where they stand after today’s city council decision.
Until today’s meeting, the approved budget for KED was $100 million, which included $90 million in debt and $10 million in fundraising. Last week’s report by city Engineering Services Director David Shelstead was the first indication that the cost had reached $215 million.
With today’s City Council decision, it’s likely the next incarnation of the City Council, elected Oct. 24, will decide how and whether to proceed with KED, including what to do with the $90 million the city has already secured in debt for the project.
Tyler Clark covers City Hall and political issues for Sudbury.com.
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