The next step toward bringing an arts and culture centre to Collingwood was given initial approval on Monday night.
During the July 24 committee of the whole meeting, councillors voted unanimously to spend $200,000 to contract Colliers Project Leaders to develop a business case for the centre, which will mark Phase 3 of the project. The money will come from the town’s Arts and Culture Legacy Fund.
Dean Plater of Colliers Project Leaders provided a brief presentation for councillors, outlining the type of work they could embark on. A business case for the centre would include functional design elements, fundraising estimates/strategy and operating costs based on the design. Public consultation would also be undertaken as part of the business case.
“This is really an exciting day for the residents of Collingwood, and a pivotal point for the arts community,” said Rob Hart, representing the Collingwood Arts, Culture and Entertainment group, in his comments to councillors on the motion. “This is a critical phase of this project.”
Hart asked if other locations could still be considered as part of the business case work, such as 140 Ste. Marie St., as he had concerns about 48 Ste. Marie St. being on a floodplain.
“Does Phase 3 also evaluate 140 Ste. Marie as an option? We don’t want to end up back at square one if 48 Ste. Marie is, for some reason, turned down,” he said.
Dean Collver, the town’s director of parks, recreation and culture, said both 140 Ste. Marie St. and the Pine Street parking lot are still possibilities as locations for a future centre.
“Most of the downtown is within the floodplain and the (Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority) regulatory area, so any site chosen would require a robust planning approach,” he said.
Resident Jim Roe asked if a governance model for the arts centre could also be considered within the business case, as well as an economic impact assessment.
On April 3, the town’s consultant team, Nordicity, delivered its most recent findings on the project to councillors as part of Phase 2, suggesting a 400-seat theatre be built and offering two site options for it: a parking lot at 48 Ste Marie St. and the former Collingwood Terminals building. At that time, most of council and representatives from several local arts groups pushed for 48 Ste. Marie St. as the best location of the two.
Based on the consultants’ work in phases 1 and 2, the current estimated cost of building an arts and culture centre is between $25 million and $34 million, but those figures don’t include soft costs such as the architectural designs, nor do they include furnishings and equipment, which Nordicity suggested could add about 10 per cent to the overall cost. A parking structure, whether under or above ground, would also add to the cost, possibly another $10 million.
The arts and culture centre is not anticipated to make a profit.
The annual operating budget is expected to run a deficit of about $250,000 or perhaps as much as $465,000 based on other centres currently operating in municipalities similar in size to Collingwood.
When it came time for councillor questions, Coun. Brandon Houston also asked about locations.
“Are the consultants going to be empowered to investigate other locations other than 48 Ste. Marie St.?” he asked.
Plater responded by saying part of the business case would include a review of all the work that had been done on the file to date, including site selection.
“At the end of the day, our job is to really provide an independent report and recommendations,” he said.
Houston also noted he took issue with restricting the seating to 400, as he said the Gayety Theatre already can accommodate near that number of patrons.
“It could become a competitor to a private enterprise. I’m concerned with the cost of building a new theatre when we already have one of similar size. That isn’t a fiscally responsible decision,” he said.
Coun. Steve Perry asked if the business case studies would include information on the possibility of corporate sponsorship.
“I feel we’re in good hands here,” said Mayor Yvonne Hamlin. “I think we have a good team who can guide us through where we want to go.”
The arts and culture centre feasibility process was first approved by council in December 2019 as part of the 2020 budget. Since then, there have been two phases, led by Nordicity as well as Giaimo Architects.
Coun. Christopher Baines was absent from the meeting this week. The decision to approve $200,000 for the business case will be up for ratification at a future council meeting.
At the end of the committee meeting, Houston put forward a notice of motion for the town to form a steering committee for the arts and culture centre project comprised of interested parties. That motion will be considered at a later meeting.
— With files from Erika Engel
