Museum Monday (Foot of Lonsdale Phase 1)

There will a recap of the Urban Forum's design jam, now that it looks like the Council will go in a different direction.  A shout out for Ben and Tyler and NVUF for trying to do something different in this town.

http://www.cnv.org/attach/2013%2010%2028%20item%2007PP.pdf

It also looks like the the new gallery will be not be in the old pipe building in the center of the what will probably be a public square east of the current proposed site.

http://www.cnv.org/attach/2013%2010%2028%20item%2008PP.pdf

This is part of the what brings people to the waterfront area but it will not be the number one draw.  Read through the design jam to see if there is the kernel of an idea in there.  Despite the appearance of the usual suspects who focus on just one component of open space and oppose the Collier's report which focuses on retail "cafe" space and a small expansion of the hotel space, typifying it as an entirely new hotel project.  Keep an eye on Sandra Grant and Sandra Hudson who may be candidates for Council as part of an Urban Forum slate in one year.  But surmising about the election will wait until my November 15th article "One year to go".

http://download.isiglobal.ca/cnv/archive_2013-10-07.mp4.html?start=00:02:56

So we left to wonder what will be the "big draw" to get public into this area.  Something that will drawn people to the museum and other features so they will spend money in the museum "Bristro wine bar, a juice bar and a yogurt type business.
Mayor has floated a couple of ideas to start people thinking, a branch of the Vancouver aquarium although keeping sea life prisoner is strange way of showcasing North Vancouver and a ferris wheel.  Before you laugh look a look at London England, their ferris wheel catches the eye.  In that spirit, I would suggest a balloon ride, a kind of trial balloon.


The City is going to own the Gallery and is putting $250,000 from the Lower Lonsdale Amenity Reserve Fund towards the fundraising drive.  This is the second installment of a $500,000 donation by the City. The City had committed a total of $400,000 which has now grown to $500,000. This does not include free staff time. This is part of $2.5 million project plan item for the relocation of the gallery.  Presumably, $2 million is intended to be raised to repay the City for the building expenses. The project is contingent on it. Like the maritime museum, it also could fail due to a lack of funding.

http://www.cnv.org/attach/2013%2010%2028%20item%2008%20-%20Business%20Case%20Report.pdf

It should be noted in the Business that it is heavily dependant on government support and fundraising.  The City has told them that they will only get the same (and not increasing) subsidy as the present gallery.  $145,000 for Year 1 but the federal subsidy ($140,000) and the provincial subsidy ($145,000).  They anticipate that federal and provincial support will increase but if some of it doesn't come, you know our Council will step in with extra cash.

I assume the Year 1 will be budget year 2016 as that is when the project is intended to be done and the fundraising team will have "gone to the well" a lot to actually build the building which would impact the annual giving campaign. So they require donations of $300,000 a year to meet their budget.