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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, Ju ne 3, 20 21 | 10 Crossword & SudokuAnswers CITY OF WATERLOO OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW - PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE The City of Waterloo has started a review and update of the Official Plan. The Official Plan is an important document that guides land use decision-making for the city. It represents Council's vision for growth and change within the city, guided by the public interest. The review of the Official Plan will consider the existing policies and maps within the Plan and determine where and if updates are needed. Regular updates of the Plan are required to make sure it conforms to updates and changes to provincial and regional policy. A review also allows the City to ensure that the Plan reflects local priorities and community needs. You are invited to attend an online open house to learn about the study process and to help identify priorities for the review. PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE DETAILS: Thursday June 17, 2021 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. To participate in the open house, please register at: https://bit.ly/3vntD1R Members of the public who chose to participate in the open house are advised that their names and comments may be made public. For further information go to https://www.engagewr.ca/waterloo-official-plan or contact: Michelle Lee City of Waterloo 519-747-6068 Michelle.Lee@Waterloo.ca Ric Martins City of Waterloo 519-747-8518 Ric.Martins@Waterloo.ca P. 519-886-1550 TTY. 1-866-786-3941waterloo.ca Waterloo regional coun- cil is being asked to come up with an extra $400,000 in its 2022 capital budget to make immediate repairs to its former nuclear bomb shelter before contemplat- ing a future reuse that could cost upwards of $4 million. JUST THE FACTS • The former Region of Waterloo Nuclear Bomb Shelter at 3751 King St. E. was constructed in 1966 in preparation for a potential nuclear attack during the Cold War; however, it was mainly used for emergency simulations and as meet- ing space for local groups. • Most recently, from 2003 to 2018, the KW Rowing Club leased the property for boat storage. In 2017 and 2018, the region conducted building condition assess- ments that identified seri- ous health and safety con- cerns. • According to a report that was to go to council on June 1, remediation work estimated at approximate- ly $700,000 is required to waterproof, abate, secure and stabilize the building. Early cost estimates of a longer-term bomb shelter rehabilitation project, be- ginning in 2023, are esti- mated at upwards of $4 mil- lion, with annual operating costs of about $200,000. • Due to a heritage im- pact assessment report re- garding archeological re- quirements and work re- quired to decommission wells, septic systems and fuel tanks, demolition is now estimated at $475,000, but it isn't recommended. • The heritage assess- ment found the building worthy of designation un- der the Ontario Heritage Act and that it meets the criteria for identification as a regionally significant cultural heritage resource. • The architectural firm that designed it, Webb Ze- rafa Menkes and Matthew, was also responsible for de- signing the CN Tower. • The nuclear bomb shelter is listed on the City of Kitchener's Municipal Heritage Register, but isn't a designated building. The Kitchener Municipal Heri- tage Advisory Council re- viewed the heritage assess- ment and recommended the building be preserved and rehabilitated. • The 5,720-square-foot structure was built mostly of underground concrete and concrete block, featur- ing 10-inch exterior con- crete and metal doors. It was designed to be com- pletely self-sufficient with no outside requirements for power, water or sewage, and capable of housing 40 individuals to ensure a communication network remained viable and that municipal governance was maintained during a disas- ter. • The report says there have been several recent break-ins resulting in the removal of metals and damage to the interior of the building. Access points are now secured and secu- rity patrols have increased, which has added to operat- ing costs while the building remains vacant. • Staff believe that the most appropriate future use will be some form of multi-purpose space. • As part of recommen- dations to council, if ap- proved, staff would explore potential future uses, asso- ciated designations, as well as funding sources for con- sideration as part of the 2022 budget. • The City of Kitchener's parks department has been brought into discussions due to the proximity to Schneider Park and the po- tential role the bomb shelter can play in the vision for the Grand River corridor. EXPLAINER: IMMEDIATE REPAIRS NEEDED FOR FORMER BOMB BUNKER BILL JACKSON bjackson@torstar.ca The former bomb shelter a 3751 King St. E. is in need of repairs. Region of Waterloo photo NEWS WORK WORTH $700K WOULD PRECEDE PLAN FOR FUTURE USE ESTIMATED IN THE RANGE OF $4M SCAN THIS CODE for more local news.