Okotoks council sent administration back to the drawing board on a study concerning the feasibility of a performing arts centre on Riverside Drive.
A report in council on May 8 revealed the cost to mitigate potential flooding and the noise of the adjacent train tracks would be about eight to 10 per cent of the total building cost – about $2.2 million on a 300-seat theatre based on the original theatre feasibility report conducted for the Town in 2012.
The study was the result of a report in February, which considered different options for the Creamery site to replace the century-old barn that was damaged by fire in 2015.
“My thoughts were, so this is probably not a deal-breaker at this point,” said Coun. Carrie Fischer. “This is worth exploring because land is going to cost more than $2.2 million.”
Council requested administration look into the feasibility of a larger facility, and whether it would be possible to build a 700-seat theatre on the site instead.
Fischer she would have preferred to see council commit to putting the performing arts centre in its budget moving forward, as a placeholder while the feasibility study was being completed.
“The disappointing part of that is that it’s not in the budget cycle, so I’m not sure when it will get into the budget cycle and how strong of a priority it will be for the next council,” said Fischer. “Even if it was a placeholder for 2025, at least it signals it’s there and it gives all of these groups something to work toward.
“Right now it isn’t really there in any sort of definitive way.”
If the feasibility study had come out suggesting the Creamery site wasn’t the right location for a centre that would suit the community, then other sites could have been considered at that time, all while the project was on the radar, she said.
She said she’d like to see the study return to the table before budget discussions, because there has been a strong interest in a performing arts centre in the community. It’s important to begin discussing possibilities with the public, she said.
“I think the responsible thing to do is to seriously consider and understand the feasibility of that building on that land that we already own, because it’s less expensive to build the building on land we already own than land we have to purchase,” said Fischer.
Cheryl Taylor, president of the Okotoks Arts Council, said the council is just pleased to know a potential theatre is being discussed by the Town.
“We’re very supportive and excited about the direction council is taking with an interest in a performing arts centre, and we’re looking forward to more development on this,” said Taylor.
Though it’s in preliminary stages, she said the arts council is happy to see conversations have begun. It’s something that’s been identified as a necessity in the community for some time, she said.
“We have a number of dance studios, choirs, drama groups, that have all, for years, identified the need for performing arts space,” said Taylor. “We have the Rotary Performing Arts Centre, which seats 110 people and is not really an adequate performing arts facility.”
While RPAC has a small stage suitable for some performances, she said it lacks certain key elements like a proper backstage for larger productions.
The sheer size of the RPAC is not large enough for many community groups, she said. Big Rock Singers had a crowd of more than 700 at its spring concert this month, and most dance studios in town are forced to find theatres in Calgary for their recitals, many of which can draw audiences of more than 1,000.
“Not everyone in the community is sports-oriented,” said Taylor. “We have those facilities in place and it’s time for performing arts facilities to balance that out.”
While Coun. Ed Sands agrees a performing arts centre is necessary, he said the location at Riverside Drive is less than ideal.
“That location was good in 2012, before moving forward with changing out our finite growth model,” said Sands.
A 300-seat theatre may have been okay before, but imminent growth has changed that, he said. If it was possible to build a smaller theatre now and then put more funding together for a larger centre 15 years down the road, he said that would be ideal – but not realistic.
“I think we need to hold out for a theatre of sufficient size,” said Sands. “Parking continues to be an issue at that site, flood-proofing at that location I think is an issue.”
He said paying an additional $2.2 million for soundproofing and flood protection seems to high a price to pay. He’d rather wait it out and find a better site, he said.
