Construction starts next month on an $8-million hub in the Village of Anmore.
On Tuesday (April 12), the municipality north of Port Moody announced it had gained a $2.5-million grant from the federal and provincial governments to build a community hub on the same site as its village hall (2697 Sunnyside Rd.).
Once completed next summer, the 14,215 sq. ft. structure will include an administration office for village staff, who are currently working out of an onsite trailer, plus space to convert into an emergency operations centre and reception area, if needed.
The council chamber room will also be able to be converted for community use, providing audio and video technology to live-stream meetings.
And there will be public washrooms, necessary for outdoor events and activities at the nearby Spirit Park.
As well, the entry will be decorated with photos and memorabilia of the village over the years.
In the meantime, the village office trailer will move to the works yard (100 Buntzen Creek Rd.) on April 29, while village council meetings will be held at Anmore Elementary School.
The news of the grant — the largest ever for the village — comes after the municipality retooled the design and construction model in 2021 to shave costs due to escalating labour and material prices.
The $8-million price tag is fixed, Mayor John McEwen said; however, last month, council OK’d an additional $500,000 to cover risks.
Besides the $2.5 million grant, the costs will be offset using
- a long-term loan through the Municipal Finance Authority: $2.5 million
- capital reserves: $1.5 million
- developer contributions: $1.2 million
- secured provincial grants: $125,000
The village has worked with the Krahn Group of Companies and Jacob Bros. Construction on the re-design through an integrated project delivery approach since late 2021, said Juli Halliwell, Anmore's chief administration officer.
"Future improvements such as Spirit Park upgrades and Ravenswood Road realignment will be considered following construction," she said.
