The city has leased two spaces in təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre but it wants to assess the community’s appetite before selecting a tenant for the building’s final leased space.
Earlier this month, city council authorized the mayor and council clerk to execute the lease agreement for the provision of active rehabilitation services in the community centre. Starting May 1, the city will lease out the 58-square-metre space (624 square feet) to MacPherson and Zenone Physiotherapist Corporation.
“New municipal aquatic and fitness facilities are trending to include purpose-built commercial rehabilitation spaces,” said a staff report. “These spaces support the overall health and wellness of the community. It is recognized that active rehabilitation operations generate revenue through both the direct proceeds arising form the lease agreement, and also through the subsequent sale of city Active Passes via rehabilitation services users continuing their wellness practices after treatment.”
In February, the City of New Westminster announced the YMCA would be operating Sea Otter YMCA Child Care Centre in the new facility. The centre will be able to accommodate 37 infant/toddler and preschool-aged children.
“We anticipate an opening on May 1,” said Renee Chadwick, the city’s manager of special projects and community partnerships. “They have received a number of referrals for their facility to open in May, so they've started a good list of families that require this service. We offer it for 12 infant child-care spaces, and 25 preschool age spaces.”
A third space in təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre that’s intended to be leased out was created as a café. An April 8 report to council stated that the opening of the café has been deferred.
“We made a decision to not go forward with opening the cafe at this point – the reason being we're not sure exactly what the community wants, and this whole facility was based on community engagement and community input,” Chadwick said. “We really would like to go out and ask the community what kind of food or services they require.”
Chadwick said there's a number of operating models that could be considered for the space.
“But until we find out what our community wants, we didn't want to go forward with that at this point,” she said. “The anticipated timeline for that is 2025, and we look forward to that.”
