Langford council is asking residents to weigh in on whether the municipality should spend $35 million to purchase the building that houses the city’s only swimming pool.
The city is considering purchasing the 60,000-square-foot aquatic centre from Westhills Development Corporation, which built and owns the recreation facility, and rents it to the YW/YMCA.
The Westhills YW/YMCA Langford Aquatic Centre also includes a library branch, the Victoria Conservatory of Music and a private orthodontics practice.
On Monday, council received an offer from Westhills to sell the building and 186 spaces in a parking lot across the street.
The offer expires Dec. 17, and would be finalized on April 1, 2025, if accepted, said Matthew Douglas, a project leader with Colliers, in an update to council on the potential purchase of the building.
The YW/YMCA has lost more than $10 million in operating costs since the centre’s opening in 2016 and likely cannot meet its future obligations under a lease agreement with Westhills Land Corp., Douglas said.
In the event of default by YW/YMCA, the city is contractually obligated to pay all costs associated with the lease under a tripartite agreement made before construction of the facility, Douglas told council.
Last year, the city doubled its annual subsidy to $1.9 million after the YW/YMCA of Vancouver Island told Langford council it would have to imminently close the Westhills YW/YMCA Langford Aquatic Centre without additional funding.
Westhills is a developer, and not a landlord for recreational centres, which is clear in the original agreements that transferred “a significant level of financial risk” to the YW/YMCA and ultimately the city, Douglas said.
The offer to sell represents a potential solution for both the city and Westhills, and provides a benefit to the community in ensuring the future of the recreation centre, he said.
Regardless of whether the city purchases the building, it will be on the hook for an estimated $14.8 million over the next 17 years to cover costs, the city said in a statement. Purchasing is expected to save the city $10.2 million over 17 years and $121 million over 42 years, compared with the current arrangement, the city said.
The purchase would require an annual tax increase of 1.75 per cent from 2025 to 2028, which has already been included in the city’s financial plan through 2027.
If the city purchases the building, it will have control over the facilities long-term to ensure continued recreation services are available, said Mayor Scott Goodmanson.
“The contract ends in 25 years, and Westhills is under no obligation to renew it. They could say: ‘Wow, this land is worth a lot more. We’re done.’ And redesign it, redevelop it, whatever,” Goodmanson said.
He noted recreation facilities, and particularly pools, in the Capital Regional District are already maxed out and some pools are closing.
The University of Victoria’s McKinnon Pool was drained in September and the City of Victoria is holding a referendum on the future of Crystal Pool, which could include a prolonged closure while a new facility is built.
If the city does not purchase the building, service would continue as long as the YW/YMCA can continue to operate under the status quo arrangement, Goodmanson said.
Council will consider the idea of purchasing the facility at a Dec. 2 council meeting, where the public can provide input.
Residents can also provide comments at a Nov. 18 council meeting, when more information will be available, or via email at [email protected].
