PAC or No PAC
Prince George, B.C.- The future of a proposed Prince George Regional Performing Arts Centre is no clearer now, than it was a year or two ago.Staff presented an update to Council outlining the actions, or lack of such since July of 2014 and it clearly sets out March 31st as a deadline for some of the resolutions previous council had approved.
Some Councillors agree they still support the idea, Councillor Frank Everitt says it is clear there are no dollars coming from senior levels of government and the City can’t go it alone.
Jillian Merrick says she has serious concerns about this project, “Right now my support is not there.” She questions what ‘community buy in’ there has been as no one in the City has brought up the issue at any of the Neighbourhood discussions held in October, nor has she seen any fundraising efforts on the part of the Prince George Regional Performing Arts Society.
Councillor Susan Scott echoed the concerns expressed by Merrick “I resonate with everything that’s being said this evening” but she said she was not being asked to make a decision and made a motion that Council simply receive the report.
A key to the business case for the Performing Arts Centre is Theatre Northwest. TNW would like to be the “anchor tenant” of such a facility, but in a letter to the City says it needs to know if the City is committed to moving forward, because they are in need of a new home. Without a commitment from the City, TNW says it will have to look for another venue.
Among the items that were approved in July of 2014, staff say the land selected for the centre will remain on hold, unless of course a developer presses to buy it.
“Yes we want to make it happen, but with a reasoned plan to move ahead in a step by step fashion” says Councillor Garth Frizzell.
Finances for the estimated $45 million dollar project, would be shared among the three levels of government. The City is already donating the land, which it says its valued at $3.5 million so the City’s share would be just under another $12 million. There is a possibility of using some of the anticipated dollars from the Terasen Gas “Lease In- Lease out” agreement which matures in 2020. It is expected that agreement will provide the City with about $25 million dollars, and some of it could be earmarked for a performing arts centre.But with no commitment of cultural capital dollars, the City is reluctant to take any further steps.
“We’ve gone through a public process through TalkTober about what the community really wants to see in the community” says Mayor Lyn Hall, who says the other major issue for him is the fundraising and funding. he says while the federal government has promised some infrastructure funding, it is not clear how such a project like this would fit within those funding parameters. “I understand Theatre Northwest would like an answer sooner rather than later, but sometimes, you just have to forge on, because the decision is not going to be quick.”
Comments
To me it couldn’t be anymore clearer.. No to the PAC.. I have not heard any of my family, friends, co workers etc think it’s a good idea. Why so scared of doing a referendum?
If we have to choose, I’d rather have good ambulance service than a PAC.
Let’s just PAC it! AMEN!!
Or, you know, they could just use the Playhouse and Vanier Hall … which is all they need. The day you guys fill Kin 1 with a production, the taxpayers will listen to your desires. Until then, you don’t need anything more than a 300 seat venue, and that is a fact.
Taken off of the city website : Next council meeting council will review the Prince George Regional Performing Arts Centre Society’s Proposed Regional Performing Arts Centre (PAC) Update
“City‐owned parcels have been kept available. Some purchase enquiries have been
received.”
The citizens of PG will never know what the city said to these interested parties in regards to the property. Fo all we know the city could have said they were not available!
What the dickens is going on with this city? Forget I asked..lol
Why is the city wasting taxpayer dollars if the pieces of city owned properties have had some interested parties for these properties?
The PAC sure has not done much for the city to retain these properties all these years!
Why have these properties not been sold? Is someone in another pocket all these years?? This is ridiculous to say the lease. Sell the property it would make for a good seniors home.
Kamloops had a vote for their PAC and it got shut down. Lets bring it to a referendum and shut it down as well.
If there is a real interest by a business to purchase the now empty lot across from the Farmers Market and establish a business which fits into the improvement of downtown I say let them have a go at it! That PAC thing can be put on ice for a number of years. Why keep bringing it up before council? For now, landscape the lot, plant some trees and make it an appealing improvement of the ambience next to the City Hall and George Street.
We would already be having this jammed down our throats under the BCP, except our council can’t convince the province or the Feds to fork over the cash.
I would really like to know who these PAC proponents are? I personally only know one person who is for this, and he is about to retire and move south anyways. I am not against developing and promoting the performing arts in PG, but not at taxpayers expense. If there is such a demand for a PAC, then these people could show some initiative and secure private funding, a location (bought via private or corp funds) and then look to govt or municipality for some matching funds. Sorry, I just dont see this as being a project to lay upon the taxpayers at this time.
And include this NEEDLE Park,on this referendum, they are wanting to put in behind that Wood building…at a Cost of close to a Million bucks…..
Cost of close to a Million bucks, for a park that no one will use except the Down Town crowd. This planed Park should be stopped and the property sold.
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