Civic Centre could be in tune for a $1.6 Million upgrade
By Timothy Schafer
The curtain could be set to rise on a $1.6 million project for the city’s 80-year-old theatre and Civic Centre if its municipal landlord throws its backing behind it.
The Nelson Civic Theatre Society alerted city council Monday night during their regular meeting of the opportunity to secure senior government grant funding for a possible phase one “A” renovation — a new façade and concourse for the Civic Centre — in the wake of the publishing of the city-commissioned Conference Centre Feasibility Study.
A contingent of four society members gave their interpretation of the study’s findings to council in a 30-minute presentation, as well as urging the elected officials for a quick decision on the first phase of the centre’s renovation in order to apply for a Canada 150 Fund grant.
“We have an opportunity here to revitalize and re-purpose a treasured community asset,” said Marilyn Mint, president of the Nelson Civic Theatre Society, about the grant.
In honour of the nation’s 150th birthday, the grant is targeted at creating a limited number of high-impact, large-scale projects that are national in scope but will also be supported through the Canada 150 Fund as Signature Initiatives, and carries a June 17 deadline to apply.
Monday night was council’s first look at the study it commissioned since the theatre society first began conversation with them over the potential use of the facility.
However, because of the limited scope of accommodations in the city and the constraints of the city’s airport, it was felt even a low-tier conference centre would not be adequately supported. Society executive director Eleanor Stacey said although the city was not suitable for tier three — the smallest tier on the convention centre scale — they could formulate their own fourth tier, if the will to pursue such a facility was still a desirable appetite for city council.
But a renovation of the 80-year-old Civic Centre was inevitable, said Mint, and the Canada 150 Fund could be the start of that.
The money from such a grant would help pay for a full concourse across the front of the building in phase one “A” of the project, with the emergence and connection of a second theatre within the existing Civic Theatre structure as the “B” part of the first phase.
The concourse project is estimated to be $1.6 million, and would include wheelchair-accessible entrances, a new, two-storey façade.
The construction of the concourse and possible renovation of the Civic Centre would be city-directed projects, said Stacey, with the original vision of the society untainted: adding a second theatre.
“Because we are only tenants in the building … and it needs eyes to the future, it is the city’s building and they have to decide what to do with it,” said Stacey. “We are planning to do our own renovations in parallel with the concourse.”
The theatre’s $1.3-million project for a second screen would dovetail into the concourse, but would not be dependent on its construction if phase one “A” did not move forward from council’s table.
With a June 17 deadline looming on the grant applications, council is expected to offer up a decision on the project and the funding application at a special June 11 meeting.
The Conference Centre Feasibility Study
The projected annual economic benefit of a new convention centre in Nelson from delegate spending was estimated at just over $1 million per year.
Assuming no displacement of the current convention market in the city, and no further hotels entering the market, the addition of a conference centre would contribute to a 46 per cent rise for the city — a two-point increase over 2014 levels.
When it is operating at full capacity, the centre is expected to comprise roughly 22 per cent of overall convention demand in the city.
The estimated capital cost to complete the full development of the proposed theatre and conference centre is $15.4 million, with $7 million related to meeting and conference facilities.
Overall the conference centre could contain a rentable square footage of up to 43,600 in full development, including 7,600 sq. ft. of the total being theatre space with a sloped floor and fixed seating, and a further 22,000 sq. ft. would be offered in an arena.
But the arena and the theatre are not highly desirable features in the convention industry.
“As such, financially, the cost to develop/re-develop these spaces would be difficult to recover with low utilization,” read the report. “Overall, the competitiveness of the Nelson conference centre is weakened relative to other convention centres by the type of space offered within the facility.”
Packaged liquor request by West Kootenay EcoSociety approved
Council approved a request from the West Kootenay EcoSociety to permit the sale of packaged liquor for off-site consumption at the Wednesday Market.
As of June 21, 2014, beer, wine, cider and spirits are permitted to be sampled and sold alongside fresh fruits and vegetables at B.C. farmer’s markets in accordance with the regulations as established by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.
City policies are silent on alcohol consumption on public lands. It will be the responsibility of the EcoSociety to ensure liquor vendors meet requirements of the legislation before permitting liquor vendors space in the market.
Nelson Pilots’ Association granted permission to serve alcohol
Another request for alcohol was approved by council as it granted the Nelson Pilots’ Association (NPA) permission to serve alcohol (beer and wine) at the airport during their special event: the B.C. Floatplane Association (BCFA) annual general meeting and fly-in.
During the three-day event, the Daybreak Rotary Club will be hosting a BBQ meal during the evening of Saturday, July 18. The BBQ meal will be closed to the public and will be for attendees of the event.
