I don't think it will be a good idea investing millions of dollars into this project at the moment,but some people will tell me otherwise.

I agree jonnypg, same goes for the ice oval project.

Build it! Build it all. If you cant build infrastructure when times are good (as they still are) then when can you build? I realize there is the aspect of a slowdown ahead but when has PG EVER been free of the fear of an impending slowdown. True, it may cost us some on our future taxes but i dont think a lot of folk are forced to move elsewhere to save 200 dollars in property tax.
Arts centers and the like attract people to the city. We can always use people, especially white collar people in this town. In the past we have had a hard time filling white collar jobs due to the perception that PG was a frozen wasteland with no amenities. THe Univeersity has helped fight this perception, a performing arts center will help as well. Heck, I might even start going to the PGSO again if they get a new facility for them.

And therein lies the problem caranmacil. You MIGHT start going to the PGSO again. People in Prince George MIGHT support a performing arts centre, however they MIGHT NOT. If they dont then we are stuck with another white elephant like
(1) The Art Centre
(2) The Civic Centre
(3) The CN Multiplex
(4) The SportsPlex

All under utilized and cost millions to maintain. So lets add another $600,000.00 per year operating costs to the above. Im sure the taxpayers are in full support of grandiose spending by Politicians and vested interest groups.

Put the Performing Arts Centre where the Brink factory is now and move Brink up to Pineview. The Nechako would have to rise a lot more to affect Pineview.

caranmacil! When times are good is when you pay down your debts, put money aside for when times aren't so good. If you can't get your debt under control and prepare for lean times ahead when times are good, when is a better time to do it? I do not agree with your strategy.

As wonderful as a Performing Arts Centre might be, I am not so sure our existing city taxpayers can pay for it. Now if the public wants to step up to the plate and pay for it and fundraise for it, let's go for it. Let the local market support also pay for it. The city has enough financial obligations already without creating more that it really cannot afford to pay for. Chester

Chester is correct that the people that want it should do fundraising etc. and if they don't have the money up front, then don't build it. If you recall the art gallery fiasco, most of the people that pledged money for it either moved out of town or "couldn't afford" it after the fact so many of the pledges were not collected. This will be the same. Everyone is all gung ho about it to start with but when it comes time to pay the piper everyone hides, and the taxpayer gets hung with all the costs again. I for one do not want any more underutilized buildings paid for by taxes from me.

I beg to differ on a number of points stated above: The sport plex, the multiplex and the civic center are not white elephants. If we limit services to those which actually operate in the black we will have PG as it used to be, even worse. We will have no facilities, including a lot of health facilities. We have a small population base. We need to pull as a group to get a variety of services. That means some property taxes, you bet. I also support a cancer clinic here, which actually is not supported by our population, if one just wants to talk dollars and sense.
Basically there seem to be 2 philosophies at play here. The first being that we should only spend money on profitable enterprises. Ones which have guarantted profits in some peoples views (i have never seen such a project by the way ). People will just have to move here and suffer until there is enough of us to justify building. My own philosophy is more like 'if you build it they will comwe'. I realize that these facilities may draw on our taxes but if they make PG a more attractive place to live then our population will increase, diversify and maybe become more stable. Larger population means more tax payers. More taxpayers in PG would be a good thing.
I realize that there are no guaranteed usage levels for any public facility. However, i do guarantee that a lack of services will affect the quality of life for people here. I also know that one of the greatest obstacles in attracting skilled labour to northern towns is a perceived lack of leisure services.
On a parting note, just how high are our taxes compared to other communities? Are we really suffering so much from all the 'white elephants' we are burdened with?