Dundas J.L.Grightmire Arena reaches partial occupancy

  

City of Hamilton public works staff say the municipality took over part of J.L. Grightmire Arena from contractor Century Group at the end of April and removed most of the construction fence surrounding the Market Street construction site as the project finally achieved partial occupancy.

City spokesperson Jacqueline Durlov said the city and contractor are now working together to complete the long-delayed addition and renovation project. Completion is now nine months past the original Sept. 7, 2018, deadline.

“The contractor’s work will be complete on site by end of June, at which time the city will completely take over the site to finish up some minor works leading up to ice-making and fall 2019 hockey,” Durlov said.

Among the work still required is installation of a new flood-proof Zamboni door required by Hamilton Conservation Authority and new concrete stairs and wheelchair ramp in the area between the arena and Garstin Centre for the Arts building.

“The contractor’s work will be complete on site by end of June." — Jacqueline Durlov

Durlov said the new flood-proof barriers arrived on-site several weeks ago and both key remaining jobs are scheduled to be completed by the end of June, but apparently aren’t required for occupancy and won’t delay reopening the arena.

Flood proofing the arena’s Zamboni entrance, either by raising the entire structure at considerable cost or finding a waterproof door, was a major early stumbling block to the original expansion and renovation application more than five years ago.

  

Peter Lloyd of Dundas Little Theatre said the organization has not heard when the new concrete steps and wheelchair ramp will be completed.

The group lost access to its main public entrance for the entire past seasonand part of the previous season.

  

“I seem to remember that the ramp has to be finished before we can open the (main) doors again,” Lloyd said.

The project tender stated that concrete stair and ramp work was to be completed by July 31, 2018.