Construction work has begun on the new Magic Lantern cinema complex in downtown North Battleford.
Director of Planning and Development Jennifer Niesink confirmed at Monday’s meeting of North Battleford city council that the first shovel went in the ground that day at the lot south of 11th Avenue and west of 101st Street.
She said temporary service lines were put in Monday, and construction activity would ramp up Tuesday. “It will take about a year,” said Niesink of the timeline for completion.
The space for the cinema, as well as an adjacent lot to the west, are barricaded. That means vehicles can no longer park at those locations, even though it was not an actual parking lot to begin with.
The reason both lots are closed off is the City is obliged to provide a landing space for the heavy equipment being used, explained Mayor Ryan Bater.
Eventually, the west lot will be developed into a parking lot that will include paid parking during weekdays. The new cinema is to be built on the corner of 11th Avenue and 101st Street.
With the two lots closed, the concern is about parking congestion in the rest of downtown.
Councillor Kelli Hawtin, who had inquired about activity at the lots, asked about whether the city would be enforcing two-hour parking downtown. Niesink confirmed that would be happening and would bring back a report on that at a later meeting.
