The City of Victoria has released the latest quarterly update on the progress of the Crystal Pool Replacement Project.
Currently, the new pool is still in the planning and design phase as the project team works on preparing recreation programs for the interim facility, confirming the construction schedule and finalizing the latest phase of design.
Concurrently, the construction manager behind the new pool is working on the procurement process.
As planning and design continues, the current Crystal Pool facility continues to operate as it has.
No official closure date has been announced, but City staff predict the facility will close to the public sometime in the fall of this year.
According to the latest update, the permanent closure date of the current facility will be announced during a city council meeting in the spring. At this time, the schematic design of the new facility will also be presented.
Following this design reveal, the City will launch a public information campaign for the public to learn more about what the new facility will offer.
For the time being, City staff are focussing on the interim location in the former YMCA/YWCA location at 851 Broughton Street.
This interim location requires some facility upgrades before it can take over Crystal Pool’s programming.
The City says that specifics about interim recreation programs and services will be shared with the public in a future update.
All in all, the project is costing Victoria a total of $209.2 million. This projected budget includes a referendum-approved plan to borrow up to $168.9 million.
Comparing this endeavour to Victoria’s other big projects, the Johnson Street Bridge replacement cost $105 million, which was $65 million over the initial budget, and the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre cost around $30 million.
As of this publication, the City says that the project is on schedule and on budget.
The projected opening date of the new facility is slated for sometime in 2030.
