The first step into the transformation of the old Memorial Arena into a marketplace is finally unfolding.
Task Force Engineering Ltd. won the bid to redevelop the Memorial Arena and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 99 in November 2019.
Progress on the project was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joe Shunock of Ekort Realty joined Lorne Brooker on The Lorne Brooker Show on 800 CJBQ to talk about the development of the project.
He says some walls have already been knocked down with development starting in the area where the old scale house used to be.
“There’s going to be a roughly 600-square-foot patio on the south side of the building, so it’s a full south-facing massive glass and entry point on both sides of the building,” Shunock explained to Brooker.
“It’s suited right now for anything but it seems the interest is mainly food related. I’ve had interest from ethnic foods, coffee, baking, you name it.”
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 99, in Belleville. (Photo: Quinte News)
When asked about plans for the Legion, Shunock said from what he understood the Legion building was part of step two in the development process.
“I’m not privy to a lot of those discussions but from what I understand, the building is not really conducive to (residences). It’s a real costly piece,” Shunock said.
“I think ultimately that site will serve as parking and commercial delivery which will feed the 20,000 square foot commercial development.”
Shunock says preservation of some of the elements from the Memorial Arena will be part of the development of the area.
“I don’t think I’m telling a secret but the plan is that they are incorporating some of that hockey theming, you know, the old clock, it’s going to be part of the design, potentially even some of the old seats, like they did with the Maple Leaf Gardens seats,” Shunock said.
“They’re not dishing them off, but they may be incorporated into some of that gathering area.”
Drawings and floor plans of the planned marketplace can be found on the Memorial Market Place website.
