keoadmin
02-22-2004, 05:14 PM
February 20, 2004 - Meeting Report of the Task Force
REPORT ON FEBRUARY 20, 2004
MEETING OF THE MAYOR’S TASK FORCE ON THE LARGE VENUE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
by Helen Finley
This was an all-day meeting. According to Councillor Foster, the portion in the earlier part of the day consisted of financial information and discussion.
I arrived in time to hear three presentations that formed part of the public consultation process:
Downtown Kingston
Chamber of Commerce
The Tragically Hip.
Downtown Kingston
It was evident from the constructive and informative presentation delivered by Doug Ritchie that the board and staff of this group had given a great deal of thought to this project. Mr. Ritchie spoke in terms of a large entertainment space with a “retail wrap-around”. The group wants a downtown location, and named a specific site – the area that is now known as the “North Block Area”. It is the four-block area bounded by Ontario, Place d’Armes, Wellington and Queen Streets. The study for this area, which was underway before the task force was struck, is due to be released shortly and the consultants have indicated that they are recommending a sizeable residential component.
The group relied on some of the studies used in the K2000 proposal for Block D, in particular, the study that demonstrated a ten-minute-walk radius from the facility was the distance that the public would tolerate. Mr. Ritchie does not see parking as a problem based on his personal observation that attendees at the two or three major summer events put on by the DBIA dissipate within a 10-minute period with no complaint of traffic hold ups. [This is not what you would call a survey based on widely gathered information.] He did not address the issue of residential spillover, in which the adjacent residential areas would become a regular, major parking facility for the Central Business District if there is not a concomitant and substantial increase in the number of available parking spaces. He did however, point out that the DBIA was in favour of increased use of public transit, a pedestrian-friendly downtown, and the third crossing.
The DBIA submission offered the Task Force one particularly helpful menu - a broad and creative list of potential funding ideas and sources:
General tax
DBIA levy
Hotel tax
Foundations
Other levels of government
Private donors
Parking garages
Redevelopment of the Memorial site
Brownfields funding.
Mr. Ritchie acknowledged that if a downtown location were chosen, that DBIA members would be beneficiaries of this decision and that under these circumstances a special levy would be appropriate and acceptable as one of the contributions to the funding of the facility. He also proposed the linking of the various arts organizations as is done in Burlington, Vermont.
Chamber of Commerce
Shirley Thomas, chair of the Chamber’s board, accompanied by Bob Scott, its Executive Director having a city-wide constituency, painted with a broader brush. Ms. Thomas indicated that a recent 48-hour survey of 500 members showed broad support for this project. The Chamber supported a multi-use but not a multi-pad facility. The Board, while it did not come out in favour of a specific site, was clear that it believed that the 401 sites were not appropriate. Ms. Thomas noted that in an informal survey of chamber members from other cities, found that those who had located their facility downtown were pleased with its location and those that had not chosen downtown wished they had.
They envisioned a city-owned facility operated by an experienced facility operator in a contractual arrangement with the City. They were also open to a range of financing possibilities and Ms. Thomas stated that the Board believed that a tax levy, borrowing and public/private partnership were all reasonable and feasible approaches. In response to Mr. Da Mora’s question of where this project should be on the City’s priority list, Ms. Thomas indicated that it should rank “high”.
The Tragically Hip
Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair provided the Task Force with the entertainment perspective. They made it clear that for acts such as The Tragically Hip to appear in Kingston a new, well-equipped facility was necessary. Nothing could be done to the Memorial Centre to make it acceptable and that the Grand Theatre, while it had a role to play in the overall venue scene, was totally unsuited to a large number of the traveling entertainment groups.
They were encouraging in that they made it clear that were such a facility available their group would perform in Kingston. As well, they conveyed their belief that other groups would find it very convenient to come to Kingston between a Montreal and Ottawa booking. They quoted their agent in this regard and noted the large potential audience of Queen’s students.
Mr. Baker and Mr. Sinclair listed several basic requirements for an approximately 6,000 seat entertainment venue to be attractive to audience-drawing entertainment groups:
- High ceiling
- Acoustically designed facility (e.g. acoustically-finished walls and ceiling, padded seats)
- Flexible dividing curtain(s) so concerts of 1,000, 1,500, 3,000 etc. could be held in appropriately-sized settings
- Movable stage
- Thoughtfully designed dressing rooms with showers, convenient work space, relaxing area, and catering facilities
- Loading bays for 18-wheelers (They travel with 3)
- Downtown location so performers and crews can readily avail themselves of the amenities and atmosphere of our downtown.
- They also submitted a list of recommendations from the sound expert who was unable to attend.
They cited the Sears Centre (Air Canada Centre) and the facility in St. John’s New Brunswick as centres they found particularly well designed and equipped.
Report from Sheila Hickey, Special Projects Coordinator at the City
Ms. Hickey reported that in the various surveys and consultations which had taken place, the level of positive response was very high, in fact the highest she had seen. The expressions of concern were related to an increase in property taxes.
Questions from the Public
At this point, the public consisted of me, Helen Finley. I asked the Task Force to consider the question of how the sound is kept inside the entertainment centre. I made the point that once they had determined how successfully the sound could be contained, this should be a factor in determining a location. For instance, if it is not possible to contain the sound then location adjacent to a residential area would not be advisable since the sound intrusion would be frequent.
In Camera Session
Following the public session, the Task Force went off for an in camera session with Messrs. Baker and Sinclair.
Comment
It was interesting for me to note how the discussion has taken on a new focus. It now seems to be about a large venue entertainment centre of which hockey will be one of the activities. Earlier on, the discussion was about a hockey arena, which other entertainments would use from time to time. I see this as a positive change.
REPORT ON FEBRUARY 20, 2004
MEETING OF THE MAYOR’S TASK FORCE ON THE LARGE VENUE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
by Helen Finley
This was an all-day meeting. According to Councillor Foster, the portion in the earlier part of the day consisted of financial information and discussion.
I arrived in time to hear three presentations that formed part of the public consultation process:
Downtown Kingston
Chamber of Commerce
The Tragically Hip.
Downtown Kingston
It was evident from the constructive and informative presentation delivered by Doug Ritchie that the board and staff of this group had given a great deal of thought to this project. Mr. Ritchie spoke in terms of a large entertainment space with a “retail wrap-around”. The group wants a downtown location, and named a specific site – the area that is now known as the “North Block Area”. It is the four-block area bounded by Ontario, Place d’Armes, Wellington and Queen Streets. The study for this area, which was underway before the task force was struck, is due to be released shortly and the consultants have indicated that they are recommending a sizeable residential component.
The group relied on some of the studies used in the K2000 proposal for Block D, in particular, the study that demonstrated a ten-minute-walk radius from the facility was the distance that the public would tolerate. Mr. Ritchie does not see parking as a problem based on his personal observation that attendees at the two or three major summer events put on by the DBIA dissipate within a 10-minute period with no complaint of traffic hold ups. [This is not what you would call a survey based on widely gathered information.] He did not address the issue of residential spillover, in which the adjacent residential areas would become a regular, major parking facility for the Central Business District if there is not a concomitant and substantial increase in the number of available parking spaces. He did however, point out that the DBIA was in favour of increased use of public transit, a pedestrian-friendly downtown, and the third crossing.
The DBIA submission offered the Task Force one particularly helpful menu - a broad and creative list of potential funding ideas and sources:
General tax
DBIA levy
Hotel tax
Foundations
Other levels of government
Private donors
Parking garages
Redevelopment of the Memorial site
Brownfields funding.
Mr. Ritchie acknowledged that if a downtown location were chosen, that DBIA members would be beneficiaries of this decision and that under these circumstances a special levy would be appropriate and acceptable as one of the contributions to the funding of the facility. He also proposed the linking of the various arts organizations as is done in Burlington, Vermont.
Chamber of Commerce
Shirley Thomas, chair of the Chamber’s board, accompanied by Bob Scott, its Executive Director having a city-wide constituency, painted with a broader brush. Ms. Thomas indicated that a recent 48-hour survey of 500 members showed broad support for this project. The Chamber supported a multi-use but not a multi-pad facility. The Board, while it did not come out in favour of a specific site, was clear that it believed that the 401 sites were not appropriate. Ms. Thomas noted that in an informal survey of chamber members from other cities, found that those who had located their facility downtown were pleased with its location and those that had not chosen downtown wished they had.
They envisioned a city-owned facility operated by an experienced facility operator in a contractual arrangement with the City. They were also open to a range of financing possibilities and Ms. Thomas stated that the Board believed that a tax levy, borrowing and public/private partnership were all reasonable and feasible approaches. In response to Mr. Da Mora’s question of where this project should be on the City’s priority list, Ms. Thomas indicated that it should rank “high”.
The Tragically Hip
Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair provided the Task Force with the entertainment perspective. They made it clear that for acts such as The Tragically Hip to appear in Kingston a new, well-equipped facility was necessary. Nothing could be done to the Memorial Centre to make it acceptable and that the Grand Theatre, while it had a role to play in the overall venue scene, was totally unsuited to a large number of the traveling entertainment groups.
They were encouraging in that they made it clear that were such a facility available their group would perform in Kingston. As well, they conveyed their belief that other groups would find it very convenient to come to Kingston between a Montreal and Ottawa booking. They quoted their agent in this regard and noted the large potential audience of Queen’s students.
Mr. Baker and Mr. Sinclair listed several basic requirements for an approximately 6,000 seat entertainment venue to be attractive to audience-drawing entertainment groups:
- High ceiling
- Acoustically designed facility (e.g. acoustically-finished walls and ceiling, padded seats)
- Flexible dividing curtain(s) so concerts of 1,000, 1,500, 3,000 etc. could be held in appropriately-sized settings
- Movable stage
- Thoughtfully designed dressing rooms with showers, convenient work space, relaxing area, and catering facilities
- Loading bays for 18-wheelers (They travel with 3)
- Downtown location so performers and crews can readily avail themselves of the amenities and atmosphere of our downtown.
- They also submitted a list of recommendations from the sound expert who was unable to attend.
They cited the Sears Centre (Air Canada Centre) and the facility in St. John’s New Brunswick as centres they found particularly well designed and equipped.
Report from Sheila Hickey, Special Projects Coordinator at the City
Ms. Hickey reported that in the various surveys and consultations which had taken place, the level of positive response was very high, in fact the highest she had seen. The expressions of concern were related to an increase in property taxes.
Questions from the Public
At this point, the public consisted of me, Helen Finley. I asked the Task Force to consider the question of how the sound is kept inside the entertainment centre. I made the point that once they had determined how successfully the sound could be contained, this should be a factor in determining a location. For instance, if it is not possible to contain the sound then location adjacent to a residential area would not be advisable since the sound intrusion would be frequent.
In Camera Session
Following the public session, the Task Force went off for an in camera session with Messrs. Baker and Sinclair.
Comment
It was interesting for me to note how the discussion has taken on a new focus. It now seems to be about a large venue entertainment centre of which hockey will be one of the activities. Earlier on, the discussion was about a hockey arena, which other entertainments would use from time to time. I see this as a positive change.