Amherstburg is facing challenges with its aging town hall that no longer meets its needs. During a recent council meeting, officials decided against relocating the town hall to the old General Amherst high school. Instead, they requested further information on alternative solutions, such as renovating the current town hall, sharing space with the Libro recreation center, or constructing a new town hall.
The proposal to reconsider options was introduced by Coun. Linden Crain after several hours of discussions with residents. While acknowledging the efforts put into the report and the Valente family’s involvement in redeveloping the high school, Crain expressed reservations about pursuing a $20-plus million project at this time. Mayor Michael Prue, one of the dissenting voters, believed that only exploring the option of co-locating the town hall with the Libro Credit Union Recreation Complex was worthwhile.
The council had received recommendations to place the town hall within the redeveloped General Amherst high school, which would exceed the needed space for the town’s growth over the next five decades. A 2024 study had highlighted the urgency for a new town hall due to deteriorating infrastructure issues affecting the existing building.
Various cost estimates were discussed, including investing $6 million in the current structure, renovating the Libro Credit Union Centre for approximately $19.25 million, or building a new town hall at a different location, like Bill Wigle Park, which would be the most expensive option. Additionally, constructing a new town hall on new land not owned by the municipality could exceed $27 million, as per a staff report.
Exploring all available alternatives is crucial as Amherstburg navigates the decision-making process to address its town hall challenges and accommodate future growth sustainably.