The fate of Crystal Pool and whether the city should borrow $168.9 million to build a replacement will be left up to the residents of Victoria.
A feasibility study released this week suggested the cost of replacing Crystal Pool will be $209.2 million to $232.9 million. Mayor Marianne Alto admitted she wished the council back in 2017 had made the decision to go ahead with a pool replacement when the cost was estimated at $70 million. “If we had, we’d been swimming in this pool now,” she said. “For those of us who were here at that point that was a profoundly disappointing time.”
The staff report noted the existing site is the most economical and efficient option, which translates into a shorter construction timeline with reduced complexity and risk. The existing site option is estimated to cost $209.2 million and would take five to six years to build. “Given the enormous demand that we’ve received to consider at least the possibility of uninterrupted service , I think it is only reasonable to include a second option on this referendum,” Caradonna said. “Given that North and South are relatively similar in cost, I think those are the two reasonable ones to put on there. And I think that voters will make the right decision.”
If residents choose Central Park North as the site, the city will close the existing Crystal Pool when construction starts, saving as much as $10 million. Dryland recreation programs offered at Crystal Pool would move to Crystal Garden. That plan requires a $750,000 capital budget for building improvements at Crystal Garden.
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