By Staff
December 8th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Standing Committee will be asked to approve Phase 1 facility design/development program budget for the adaptive reuse of the Robert Bateman High School inclusive of the following major elements and gross cost estimates based on Class B design estimates:
Base Building
Phase 1 Base Building Construction
$41,700,000
Design and Engineering/Other Soft Costs
$15,000,000
Total Base Building Construction Cost
$56,700,000
Recommended Energy Reduction Incentives
$5,250,000
Total Recommended Base Building
61,950,000
Optional Enhanced Energy Incentives (subject to confirmation of Senior Government funding application)
$10,800,000
Total Gross Construction Estimated Cost
$72,750,000
Approve the proposed Capital Financing Plan for the adaptive reuse of the Robert Bateman High School inclusive of the following:
Proposed Net Capital Financing
Tenant Direct Capital Contributions (Cash).
$7,100,000
Non-Tax Supported Debt Financing
Tenant recovery
$11,750,000
Special Circumstance Debt (SCD) Financing
$4,000,000
Tax Supported Debt Financing
$45,900,000
Senior Government Funding (subject to confirmation by Senior Government)
$4,000,000
Total Proposed Capital Financing
$72,750,000
Direct the Executive Director of Environmental, Infrastructure & Community Services to proceed with next steps for pre qualification of General Contractor and tendering of the phase 1 construction contract in Q1-2023 for the renovation to the Robert Bateman High school into a community hub.
Mayor Meed Ward wants this project which means she has the votes of Councillors Galbraith and Nisan. The school is in Ward 5, home turf for Councillor Sharman, so we know where his vote is going to go; maybe he will surprise us.
That’s the four votes needed to carry it to Council on the 13th where the final decision gets made.
Will Angelo Bentevegna and Councillor Stolte stand their ground and ask hard questions? Will Councillor Kearns get wobbly and the knees and decide being liked matters most and votes for it; expect a photo op to follow.
We get to see if the words fiscal prudence mean anything to this council later today.

Thanks for this Joe. We are very familiar with a workplace that utilized sprayed on asbestos. One of Dave’s colleagues at McMaster Medical Centre where we both worked from 71 on died from asbestosis. Both Dave and Albert and many others worked in the interstitial spaces that contained pipes etc that utilized sprayed on asbestos rather than lagging. Dave moved on early enough fortunately as there were no masks worn and no union to insist on such. Admin resisted every effort to bring in CUPE Dave has WSIB hearing aids based on their lack of safety protection. Anne sat in on many meetings where the health issues were poo pooed. It is an excellent question for the Gazette to pose. Does Bateman contain sprayed on asbestos or the easier to remove type? If sprayed on it would have been good to know before we bought it.
So,probably in the $100k realm unless asbestos removal turns into a nightmare.
https://www.thespec.com/local-hamilton-mountain/news/2022/02/25/laborious-asbestos-removal-ups-sherwood-secondary-school-s-repair-tab-hamilton-public-board-says.html