A mutual decision to part ways because of timelines.

That’s the word from both the city and Canadore College when it comes to developing a multi-sport recreational facility.

The city says they’re moving forward with a game plan to address aging infrastructure and will soon explore a variety of concepts for a new arena.

The formal process will get underway to identify the type of facility required, the appropriate location and the capital costs involved.

The process will include public consultation.

Chair of Community Services Councillor Mark King says while it’s unfortunate the city and the college are on different paths, the city does have a game plan.

He says West Ferris Arena will be closed, although it could possibly be used for something other than it’s current purpose if a private developer could take over the building.

Having said that, King believes a new arena will be built at 1 of 3 locations in the city.

He also says they are looking at a double ice pad rather than a single one.

The city hopes to have a report to Council early in the new year.

Originally the college and city were going to work together, but Canadore President George Burton says finding a mutually-appropriate timeline for both partners wasn’t possible.

“While we had some of the same objectives for the facility, plans for delivering on these goals at the institutions were too far apart.” Burton said.

Burton says Commerce Court continues to be one of the preferred locations for a few reasons, “access to public transit, of course,  the other thing is we have 800 plus students at Commerce with very limited recreation space.”

However, he says they’re putting everything back on the table as they’re going it alone now.

The new facility would accommodate academic programming and varsity, club and recreational athletics, including soccer, baseball, football, ultimate frisbee and more.

The tender process is expected to get started this month with officials hopeful it’ll be open for the Fall 2017 Semester.

The college says aging infrastructure, space usage, heavy usage of existing facilities and technology advances have rendered the College’s athletic and recreational properties uncompetitive, leaving it difficult to attract and retain students.