CBRM buys land next to Centre 200 for transit hub, possible arena expansion
Mayor Cecil Clarke says land could also be used for a parkade or sports facilities that complement the arena
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is buying property in downtown Sydney to improve public transit and traffic safety and allow for the possible expansion of the Centre 200 arena.
On Tuesday, council agreed to pay $300,000 for a lot that faces Prince Street between Mitchell Place and Liberty Street next to the arena.
"The plans for that property include putting in a transit hub and, as we move forward, we're going to have to acquire more properties for both road access in and out, [and] built infrastructure that will complement and integrate into the Centre 200 facility," said Mayor Cecil Clarke.
"It'll be part of a broader discussion about needs in the community, whether that's for a parkade [or] whether that's the revitalization of Centre 200 itself."
The arena is home to the Cape Breton Eagles junior hockey team and is used for other large sporting events, concerts and community activities.
In 2021, council began looking at an expansion of Centre 200 that could include curling ice and facilities for court sports like basketball and racquetball.
The following year, council received a consultant's report that suggested three options ranging in price from $27 million to $42 million.
Clarke said now that the Sydney Curling Club has announced plans to build a new rink in Open Hearth Park, CBRM will have other uses for the land next door to the arena.
The lot houses a vehicle repair shop. Council was told the current landowner has already paid for an environmental study on the property.
Clarke said the purchase is well timed, with Cape Breton University and the province studying the possibility of an electric light-rail transit system that could be built partly on existing train tracks.
CBU had expected to have that rail study completed by the fall, but has said it has been delayed in getting access to some of the potential properties where the line would have to go to reach the university.
Clarke said building a transit hub near the arena would make an ideal location to connect buses with a train system.
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