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Performing arts centre not suited for creamery site

Dear editor, In May of 2012, a feasibility study was undertaken by WEBB Management Services Incorporated of New York City, to look into the need, economics, concept and design of a new performing arts facility for Okotoks.

Dear editor,

In May of 2012, a feasibility study was undertaken by WEBB Management Services Incorporated of New York City, to look into the need, economics, concept and design of a new performing arts facility for Okotoks. The final report was quite comprehensive at 159 pages. Numerous user groups were consulted at the time and the conclusion was to build a proper 700 plus seat theatre complex complete with green rooms, arts facilities, public spaces and a whole host of usable amenities, to be built on the western outskirts of Okotoks. This study pretty much died in Council as soon as it was presented. It was a complete waste of time and money.

It is a considerable kick in the teeth, to all of the local performing arts groups, having gone thru the original feasibility study, to even suggest that the site of the old creamery become a new performing arts centre, in whatever form that would take. The mere suggestion of using the site for such a purpose is laughable. First, the site is right next to the Sheep River, which as residents know, only floods once in a 100 years. That in itself is tragic. Secondly, the site is right next to a rail line. As a performer, I cannot think of anything worse than a train shooting past the facility, horns blaring whilst in the middle of a performance.

The Town of Okotoks (actually the taxpayers) has now paid yet another $38,000 for yet another feasibility study by Nadi Design of Winnipeg (local consultants are in short supply obviously) to consider a proper use of the space at the old creamery site. Any permanent structure in a known flood prone area, next to an active railway line is complete lunacy.

The idea needs to be scrapped, the land left as an empty flood plain, and the serious consideration of a proper performing arts centre, located elsewhere, needs to be addressed.

John Bird

Okotoks




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