Council directs a redesign for arts club facilities
At a hastily called Special Council Meeting Thursday, December 1, the council unanimously gave the staff direction to redesign the renovations at the former Reel-to-Reel / Lake Theater project into a scaled-down plan.
The new plan will have about 6,000 sq. ft. on a leveled main floor. That includes both sides of the old theatre. This space will be for the fine art community workshops - painters, potters, and printers. The upper level will be used for storage, etc. This eliminates the need for a costly elevator.
The design should be ready for tender in a week or two. Add another couple of weeks (plus holiday delays), and this could be awarded in early January. That could allow most of the work to be done by the end of March, and that's important so we don't lose the 750k Fednor grant.
The vote was unanimously in favour. Unfortunately, the council continues to avoid roll call votes which were the standard practice of the past council. Roll call votes are a much more transparent and accountable voting method.
This new plan leaves more money in the pot for a future performing arts theatre.
The location of the future performing arts theatre aside, the council's plan makes a lot of sense.
by Stephen Calverley, December 1, 2022
The new plan will have about 6,000 sq. ft. on a leveled main floor. That includes both sides of the old theatre. This space will be for the fine art community workshops - painters, potters, and printers. The upper level will be used for storage, etc. This eliminates the need for a costly elevator.
The design should be ready for tender in a week or two. Add another couple of weeks (plus holiday delays), and this could be awarded in early January. That could allow most of the work to be done by the end of March, and that's important so we don't lose the 750k Fednor grant.
The vote was unanimously in favour. Unfortunately, the council continues to avoid roll call votes which were the standard practice of the past council. Roll call votes are a much more transparent and accountable voting method.
This new plan leaves more money in the pot for a future performing arts theatre.
The location of the future performing arts theatre aside, the council's plan makes a lot of sense.
by Stephen Calverley, December 1, 2022