HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 20-24Report to Council
Report Number: CS 20-24
Date: June 24, 2024
From: Laura Gibbs Director, Community Services
Subject: Interim Program Space in Seaton Update -File: A-1440-001
Recommendation:
1.That Report CS 20-24, regarding Interim Program Space in Seaton Update, be received
for information.
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Interim
Program Space in Seaton.
As per Resolution #142/23, staff were directed to explore opportunities with the
commercial/retail plazas and developers/owners for the interim use of commercial spaces for delivery of City recreation and leisure programming, and report back to Council with opportunities and recommendations by the end of Q2, 2023.
At the Council meeting of June 26, 2023, through Report CS 23-23, staff recommended further investigation in the Seaton Commercial Plaza at Taunton Road and Peter Matthews Drive as a potential interim commercial space for municipal recreation programming. As per Resolution #221/23, staff were directed to further investigate opportunities for the interim use of this
commercial space including rental, fit-out, and lease terms, develop a draft program plan budget for the proposed space, and to report back to Council in Q4, 2023.
At the Council meeting of December 11, 2023, through Report CS 32-23, staff provided a
program plan for the space and an estimate for operating costs for the facility of approximately $215,457.00 annually. As per Resolution #358/23, staff were directed to further investigate opportunities for the interim use of this commercial space including rental, fit-out, and lease terms and to report back to Council in Q2, 2024.
Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond
to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priority of Advocate for an Inclusive, Welcoming, Safe & Healthy Community.
Financial Implications: Interim commercial space for the delivery of municipal recreation programming in Seaton could potentially incur annual revenue of $302,453.00, and expenses of $659,397.00, with total net cost of $356,944.00 in year one. Net operating expenses for the
following years are estimated to be $215,457.00 annually. These costs exclude one-time
leasehold improvements and annual lease costs.
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Subject: Interim Program Space in Seaton Update Page 2
One-time leasehold improvements, based on 10,000 square feet, are estimated at $990,000.00. Lease costs per square foot are not yet available.
Discussion: The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Interim Program Space in Seaton. In spring 2018, residents began moving into new homes in the Seaton
community. The development of this community is expected to attract 70,000 new residents and 35,000 new jobs by 2031. As the population of Seaton continues to grow, the need for recreation and leisure programs also grows. Currently, Seaton residents do not have dedicated
municipal facilities offering City recreation programs, until the opening of the Seaton
Recreation Complex & Library, anticipated in 2028/2029 (located at the southeast corner of the
further Burkholder Drive and re-aligned Whitevale Road).
That said, local neighborhood commercial and retail plazas are being constructed earlier than municipal facilities and potentially provide opportunities for interim locations for the delivery of
municipal recreation programming. With an interim recreation programming space, the Community Services Department could offer a range of camps, sports, dance, art, language, and fitness programs for all age groups.
A. The Commercial Space at the Seaton Commercial Plaza will be suitable, in an interim
basis, for the delivery of municipal recreational programs (Taunton Road and Peter Matthews Drive).
The Seaton Commercial Plaza has a future development block planned that is accessible from Taunton Road, Peter Matthews Drive, and Marathon Avenue. The plans for the commercial
plaza include seven commercial buildings located around a shared parking lot with 752 parking spaces. The plaza also has an adjacent public transit stop planned at the corner of Peter Matthews Drive and Taunton Road. The plaza has spaces available for lease between 10,000 and 17,000 square feet.
B. The start of construction has been delayed.
In early discussions with the developer, construction of this Plaza was expected to begin in 2024. As of June 2024, construction of the Seaton Commercial Plaza is expected to begin in
2025, with construction completed and the building space available for lease in 2026.
C. The amount of space required to operate recreation programs is available in the planned Seaton Commercial Plaza.
The following space requirements are recommended to offer a full range of recreation programming in an interim leased space:
• at least 800 square feet of suitable program space that can be used for leisure
programming like free teen drop-in programs, pre-school programs, language instruction, art classes, etc.
• at least 800 square feet of suitable program space that can be used for fitness and
recreation activities like dance and fitness classes
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Subject: Interim Program Space in Seaton Update Page 3
• at least 7,000 square feet of suitable program space that can be used for basketball, volleyball, badminton, pickleball, and a range of sports-based and multi-use programming
• front lobby space with a desk, computer and small space for people to wait
• janitors closet and storage for cleaning supplies
• accessible washrooms
• a small office space that is enclosed to support program administration
• large program storage suitable for tables, chairs, sports and fitness equipment
• other back of house areas as may be required
Community Services staff have prepared a proposed program plan requiring an estimated
9,000 to 10,000 square feet that could provide interim recreation programs to 65,000 users annually. This is based on 68 hours of programs being offered weekly.
There are several buildings at the Seaton Commercial Plaza that would be suitable for interim recreation program use. “Building E” is expected to be 10,000 square feet, which would meet the City’s programming requirements.
D. New gymnasiums are planned in Seaton, opening in 2026.
The Durham District School Board (DDSB) has confirmed that a new school is being constructed at Burkholder Drive and Azalea Avenue in Seaton. The new school will accommodate 634 student spaces including a four-room childcare centre. It will include six Full
Day Kindergarten rooms, eighteen regular classrooms, two Special Education rooms, Science,
Art and Music room along with a gymnasium and library. The school will be approximately
6,924 square metres. The new school is expected to open September, 2026. Through the Community Use of Schools partnership the City has with the DDSB, additional recreation, camp, and sports-based programming can be offered in this Seaton-based school gymnasium
starting in 2026. E. Recreation Programming is being offered in Seaton currently.
Rick Johnson Memorial Park was identified as a park location that sees consistent leisure use by residents in the Seaton area and is a good location to host pre-registered, instructional
programs for children and youth, as well as weekly cultural events including small-scale concerts and movie nights.
Community Services staff offered four community engagement sessions, as well as an online survey to receive feedback and determine the types of recreation and culture programs that Seaton residents were interested in attending.
Responses from the public consultations showed an interest in a large variety of programming, especially children and youth evening activities, as well as Friday night and Saturday family activities. This summer, staff are offering over 280 hours of programming, workshops and
events at Rick Johnson Memorial Park. Activities began in June to mark the start of Seniors
month and will run through to September and include but are not limited to: Parent and Tot
classes, Yoga and Socacize, Children’s Art, Hip-Hop and Multi-sport programs, Pre-teen and
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Free Teen programs, evening Adult Sports, 55+ workshops and Art classes as well as Friday night summer concerts and weekend Museum programs. Interested community members can
register for programs at Pickering.ca/active or in person at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex.
F. The Seaton Recreation Complex & Library is on schedule for a 2028/2029 opening.
The Seaton Recreation Complex & Library is planned to be an approximately 180,000 square foot facility with recreation amenities including a triple gymnasium, two pad arena, aquatics
complex, multipurpose program rooms, outdoor skatepark, and outdoor multi-sport courts. This facility will serve the recreation needs for both residents of Seaton and Pickering.
This project is currently on schedule for design to conclude by the end of 2025, with
construction commencing in 2026.
H. The Pickering Heritage & Community Centre is scheduled to open in 2026.
The Pickering Heritage & Community Centre (PHCC) is a 44,000 square foot facility that is currently under construction, expected to open to the public in Spring, 2026. This community centre will provide a range of recreation programs to residents such as yoga, tai chi, karate, children’s camps, art-based programs, language instruction programs, music instruction,
volunteer activities and age specific activities for children, teens and older adults. The PHCC is located in central Pickering, within a five-minute drive of the Seaton community. This facility
will serve Seaton residents with a variety of recreation and culture programs.
The opportunity to utilize leased commercial space to deliver municipal recreation programs can be considered as an interim solution prior to the construction of municipal community facilities in Seaton including the PHCC in 2026 and Seaton Recreation Complex & Library in 2028. However, the upfront and one-time leasehold costs must be weighed against the term
that this lease spaced would be required.
Attachment: None.
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
Original Signed By Original Signed By
Karen Coleman Laura Gibbs, MBA, BSc. Manager, Recreation Services Director, Community Services
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Subject: Interim Program Space in Seaton Update Page 5
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Original Signed By
Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer