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“At the end of the day, it benefits the whole city. This could easily be a regional facility,” Cloutier said.

The early cost estimate is $5.8 million. The city wants to hire an architectural consultant by the end of the month to begin the design work, but council still needs to decide if the project should go ahead with the special levy. Council’s finance and economic development committee could consider the proposal in April.

All property owners in the ward would be expected to pay an extra fee for 10 years. According to Cloutier, the average homeowner would pay $16.88 annually. The special levy would bring in $2.9 million from taxpayers over that 10-year period.

Another $2.5 million would be paid from revenue collected through development charges, and $400,000 would come from sponsorships and community partners, such as the Canterbury Community Association, which is offering to chip in $150,000.

John Marshall, president of the Canterbury Community Association, said the facility would increase programming in the neighbourhood. The association is considering farmers’ markets, arts shows and fairs if the city goes ahead with the project.

“We see it as a way to expand the services we already offer,” Marshall said.

As for the special levy, Marshall believes it would be good value for money.

It would be only the fourth special area levy charged by the city since amalgamation, not including those charged in business improvement areas. Council recently signed off on a special levy in Kanata North for an anti-mosquito program. Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson organized a ward vote on the special levy and won council’s approval to charge property owners the fee.