Work could begin on the new BMO Centre expansion as early as this spring, now that the London Optimists have secured a grant from the city.
Council voted 13-1 Tuesday in favour of chipping in $800,000 to help with the popular indoor soccer facility's $7.8-million expansion.
"Ideally, I would have liked to see this come through the multi-year budget process," says Councillor Mo Salih. "But the reality was what was being presented was sound and there was some merit to it. That was the deciding factor for me."
The facility was build in 2011. Since then, its popularity has grown and its soccer are fields running at capacity. The expansion would add two fields or roughly 70,000 square feet. It's hoped construction would be complete by next winter.
The expansion will allow the club to vacate the soccer dome it leases on Cuddy Blvd., which would allow the city to sell that land. The property on Cuddy Blvd. is valued around $575,000.
Salih says that's just one of the project's benefits.
"We strengthen our relationship with the centre, as well as giving Londoners more of an opportunity to use the indoor soccer facility for recreation and stay more active. As well it allows us to move a little bit freely with some other options we have had in the past as far as the Cuddy Centre."
The city would get development fees for the BMO Centre expansion of up to $700,000 and benefit from increased taxes.
The Optimists are also approaching the provincial and federal governments with requests for funding.