Memorial Centre Development Process

[posting]

City Council Notice of Motion by Councillor Ed Smith to restrict the development options for consideration for the Memorial Centre:




This motion will be consdered this evening, April 25th, by the Memorial Centre Revitalization Committee





Moved by Councillor Smith



Seconded by Councillor George





WHEREAS City Council has committed to the revitalization of the 23.6 acre Memorial Centre site; and





WHEREAS what that vision will entail has yet to be determined other than it will continue to be a community owned site for community wide use; and





WHEREAS City Council has committed to public consultation to determine the nature of the plan to revitalize the Memorial Centre site and committed up to $50,000.00 to develop a concept plan and consult with the public; and





WHEREAS City Council has appointed a committee composed of public member's at large, community and stakeholder group representatives and Council members to develop a concept and consult with the public and make recommendations to City Council;





THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council further directs the Memorial Centre Revitalization Committee to develop three or more concept plans as follows:





1) status quo plan - minor modifications to the site and uses to revitalize the site;





2) renewal plan - more significant changes to the site and uses to revitalize it, potentially maintaining some of the existing structures and uses;





3) a new vision or two - as if starting from a blank piece of paper, "what would the ideal be", taking into consideration Council's existing seven priorities. In addition, one of the visions in 3 must include a vision where the fair grounds are moved to larger grounds north of the 401, for example, which would happen if this plan is ultimately decided upon by way of negotiations with the Kingston & District Agricultural Society.





- and further -






THAT the committee submits the three or more concepts to a multifaceted public consultation process.





- and further -





THAT the committee brings these concepts and consultation plans back to Council as their next order of business.

[Exhibitionist]

LOOK AT THE GRAND THEATRE - WHAT A DISASTER!

IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN RENOVATED TO THE TUNE OF $ 15 MILLION.

Frankly it should not have been renovated at all! Its an old crappy movie theatre!

We could have used that money for a brand NEW LVEC Centre !!!!

What an obvious "Kingstonian blunder" even thinking the Grand would cost 6 million to renovate!

[Emerald]

re posting above - how is that motion one of restriction?

[Emerald]

re the Grand.I agree that the renovation costs coiuld well have been spent on a new Arts complex. BUT there are some institutions in Kingston that should be renovated even if the cost is very high. The Grand is one of them - I can think of others - the Murney towers- the Fort,City Hall etc. etc. etc.
Let us just get on with it, But let us hear from the project manager on the subject of cost overruns. I'm not convinced that some of the overages could not have been forseen. By the way - who IS the project manager? and who hired him/her?

[Exhibitionist]

You must be kidding.

"The Grand" was a "movie theatre" - not anything else. Just like the Capital ONE across the street. Just like Stages. Just like AJ Hanger!

It has no stage "theatre" history" or claim to fame.
(...such as the Royal Alexander "theatre" in T.O)

The building is the problem. It's an OLD building. The foundation is poor.
(i.e it needs underpinning, excavation and insulation issues - although if you do not touch the insulation - its fine.)

And if you renovate an old building like that you might as well double the cost to do so! (Any person with any experience knows this.)

The theatre was and is generally fine as it is.

Any events I went to in past years was suitable for its small entertainment purposes.

If wiring and plumbing, change rooms.. (i.e bathrooms, handicap access) needed to be addressed. So, be it.

But, the community would have raised a million or so to do this.

I was and am totally against such a "black hole" because a few groups think this (building) is of historical significance. Fine if it is you pay for it and apply for government grants to do so. NOT my tax money!

That money almost 8 million dollars could have and SHOULD have gone towards a new building (LVEC) that would SUIT the current general publics purpose and NEEDS of the community.

Not a bunch of Kingstonian "interest groups" that live in Sir John "A" McDonalds era.

I have also come to the conclusion - when asked if I come from Kingston with 3 generations or more - I will deline to answer out of total embarrasment of how we "Kingstonians" conduct 19th century business here.

Our priorities of preservation is valid. (But, if they maybe spent as much money, interest on the enviroment rather than self "grand-ious" illusions. This town and world would be a better place to live in.

But, again not to the detriment of older / or marginalised people lossing their homes because of over taxation.

[Valley]

The Grand was actually a live theatre for most of its history from the late 19th century to the present (all but the 23 years it operated as a movie theatre in the mid 20th century) - see below.

History of the Grand Theatre

see full detail here:
http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/culture/grand/history.asp

Martin's Opera House was built in 1879 by William C. Martin, a businessman and supporter of the arts. The theatre experiences great success as it presented over 1200 live performances including opera, minstrels, band concerts and such traveling celebrities as Oscar Wilde.

EARLY PROGRAM

In 1889, it presented Canada's first opera, Leo, the Royal Cadet, which was written by two Kingston residents, Oscar Telgmann, and George Cameron. After almost twenty years, the theatre burnt to the ground on December 6, 1898.

Rebuilt in 1902 by Ambrose J. Small and E.J. Barker Pense, the Grand Opera House was rated one of the most modern theatres in Canada. It opened on January 15 of that year with the comic opera Dolly Vardon. It went on to host many operas and dramas with great success. Famous performers such as Sarah Bernhardt, Harry Houdini and Al Jolson appeared on the stage of the Grand Opera House.

[I.M.Pertinent]

I don’t put the Grand in this category, but whether its M Centre, community rinks, or some of the other neighbourhood projects - how about letting citizen groups who wish to preserve these facilities take them over and manage them independently? Kingstonians are forever pressuring city hall to hang on to money-sucking enterprises - like the Tett Centre, which provides low-cost rent to a select few of Kingston’s hundreds of not-for-profit groups and the M Centre - and to pick up hefty development tabs for special interest projects only to turn around and complain that gee, there’s not enough money for roads or sewers or new developments like LVEC.

Look what Napanee just did. The town, which does not even have a Major Junior A hockey club, built a new sports and entertainment centre. (With a minimum of fuss, I might add) A group of citizens wanted to keep the old arena so they set up a non-profit corporation, bought the old rink from the town for a song and are now free to run it however they wish.

Why can’t Ed Smith and Williamsville citizens, if they are the ones who so badly want to redevelop the M Centre, do the same thing? Perhaps because it wouldn’t be too long until they reached the same conclusion the LVEC task force reached: the grounds should be opened up to private development because M Centre redevelopment, in any form, is not financially feasible otherwise. Unless, of course, it is financed through taxes.

This arduous process adopted by Councillor Smith and his committee will, if it ever comes to fruition, result in more tax dollars being shovelled into a questionably necessary development project aimed at nothing more than appeasing a handful of voters and maybe, just maybe, securing Smith’s re-election. What’s wrong with council that it can’t focus on its priorities and occasionally say no to some of these special interest projects? No wonder Kingston is always crying poor.

[Exhibitionist]

In 1889, it presented Canada's first opera, Leo, the Royal Cadet, which was written by two Kingston residents, Oscar Telgmann, and George Cameron. After almost twenty years, the theatre burnt to the ground on December 6, 1898.

Notice you said: Rebuilt in 1902 by Ambrose J. Small and E.J. Barker Pense.

Please let (them) or others rebuild it.

I (personally) don't want it "rebuilt". - WITH MY MONEY.

It is JUST fine as is - for the VALUE AND PURPOSE "of this day".

But; if you (personally - do) want it (revisited it) and you pay for everything.

Kingston has many more economic pressing issues than investing tax dollars in "political", highly egocentric & very risky buildings/investments such as the Grand Theatre.

- See CIBC Economic Report on Kingston. We are almost dead last other than Sudbury and Thunderbay....in economic development & prosperity,

Frankly; please go to a "real opera" - in Germany or Italy where it orginated.

I have. - and it is much more enriching, professional & historically significant than - The Royal Cadet?

Harry Houdini -

He may have been "great then" - ok - but, life is just that - it moves on..for very good reasons.

But, I apologies for my ignorance.

I did not realise from before the depression to after the war
- it was a local / regional cultural "location". (At least for some.)

Since then - though it has deteriated - somewhat - probably for
obvious reasons.

Again; (if you and others fundraise) - you have my blessing - have it spruced it up and at least brought it up to code 20 years ago.

- for the next 20 odd years. Why have you not???

Being it is such a historical, cultural icon!?


But for NOW when we can least afford it - we suddenly "need" a 15 million dollar (show off) for the Sir John "A" crowd.?

Please - apply for grants for these things, fundraise - volunteer a trade.

But, never, ever , ever ask the city to pay for it!

Especially now - when we have little money and obviously poor hignsight.