Moose Jaw city council approved $115,000 for consulting and structural repairs to the basement at the Moose Jaw Centre of Arts and Culture.
The project will be funded by $100,000 from the Facilities Building Reserve and $15,000 from carryforward funds.
This stems from the March 11 city council meeting, when council approved $20,000 for an assessment of the deteriorating concrete in the basement of the Moose Jaw Centre of Arts and Culture.
Coun. Heather Eby said this facility isn't the only building on Main Street with unusual underground anomalies causing issues.
"That's not the only building that has that weird thing under the sidewalk, and that's why sometimes strange things happen in downtown Moose Jaw with other structures, with bulbouts and such," Eby said.
In particular, the storage room located underneath the theatre entrance sidewalk off Main Street was a safety concern due to exposed rebar and crumbling concrete. According to the city, everything stored in that room has been removed, and access has been limited until an engineer can review the situation.
Visual assessments were done in September, with an initial site review in October. An engineering consultant in November recommended temporary shoring and the closure of the sidewalk for public safety. The temporary shoring was fully installed on Dec. 3, and the sidewalk was reopened.
City council was told there are two repair options: close off the space by filling and sealing it, or restore the original structure through extensive repairs.
Both options would require closing the sidewalk for six to eight weeks and would cost approximately $100,000. The second option, for restoring the space, would cost about $5,000 more for labour.
Director of Community Services Derek Blais said the city aims to close the sidewalk for repairs in late August or September.
"This would allow for minimal disruption to facility operations, as August is their shutdown period, and will also help avoid any sidewalk closures during our busy tourism season," he said.
City administration recommended the first option because of its long-term viability and cost-effectiveness. Structural upgrades took place in 2002, but Blais believes the sidewalk design and protruding columns make it susceptible to water damage.
"Decommissioning that space would reduce the risk of any future deterioration and associated repair costs. Staff at the Centre of Arts and Culture also indicated that the storage space is no longer required, and eliminating it would not impact current operations," Blais said.
The breakdown of the cost would be $105,500 for structural repairs and sidewalk replacement and $9,500 for the temporary shoring monthly rental.
The funding will have no effect on the mill rate, as it is a request from the reserve.