Posted May 8, 2008, 12:39 PM
|
 |
It's Hammer Time
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 20,353
|
|
Burlington puts brakes on campus cash
May 08, 2008
Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator
Burlington
McMaster's governors face a good-news, bad-news scenario this morning as they ponder the university's plan to build a $28-million business-school satellite in Burlington -- a plan that depends on a $10-million contribution from the city.
The good news is that all members of Burlington city council support the concept and recognize it would benefit their city.
The bad news is that none of them is ready to put up the full amount, now that the university plans to build at Appleby Line and the QEW instead of downtown, as originally planned.
The move has caused the city to question how much of the anticipated economic spinoff would go Burlington directly and how much would be spread throughout the broader region.
It now appears it will be September at the earliest before the city will tell the university what it is prepared to spend. Whatever the amount is, it will now need to be shared by Halton, after councillors voted unanimously last night to seek the region's equal participation in the project.
Getting a comprehensive picture of the potential economic benefits is another part of the bundle of new conditions the city is placing on its potential participation.
"This decision means we are still talking. We are still moving forward," said McMaster provost Ilene Busch Vishniac after the vote.
The city committee's decision -- subject to council confirmation May 20 -- may complicate the university's vote this morning on final approval for $28-million building, which is planned for opening by September 2010. That approval has always been conditional on the $10 million from Burlington.
|
Threaded Mode