A proposed ordinance to convert the two-story building near the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) into a five-story mixed-use building was opposed by city and school alumni association officials in a City Council public hearing yesterday.
“It’s better to demolish the building and build a new one. The structural integrity is not enough for a five-story building,” City Hall structural Engr. Ariel Dela Cruz said of the existing structure in R.R. Landon Street.
Dela Cruz said the first floor of the building is used as a parking area while the second floor houses badminton courts and some classrooms of the Abellana National School (ANS).
The engineer also said retrofitting the building would be difficult since the area is small and it’s difficult to bring heavy equipment there.
Retrofitting will not guarantee that the building will last for 50 or 100 years.
Lot ownership
Dela Cruz said a five-story building won’t be enough to accommodate 300 parking slots for the 15,000-seating-capacity sports center.
At present, the parking space capacity is limited to 80 slots.
Julieta Herona of the Abellana Alumni Association also opposed the ordinance since there is still a lot ownership dispute in the area where the building stands.
“We are against it because Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, who is the head of the alumni association, is negotiating with Mayor Michael Rama to get the property back. Based on our records, the lot was donated by Hilario Abellana to the school. We have to settle the lot ownership first,” she told the council.
Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco supported the proposed ordinance.
He said the facility’s problem is really the parking lot.
Choking point
Hayco said the commission considers the sports center a national and international facility for trainings.
“But the choking point is the parking lot. Any business endeavor becomes successful if there’s enough parking space. If we make it international, we need a parking facility,” Hayco said.
Under the ordinance proposed by Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr., converting the current building would provide more convenient and safe parking spaces for CCSC users.
The measure also seeks to allocate P10 million for the actual conversion.
“Even on ordinary days, parking is a problem along Cebu City Sports Center because hundreds of sports and health enthusiasts flock there to undergo trainings.
There is a need for a bigger venue and more parking spaces within the vicinity of CCSC,” read the proposed ordinance.
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