Tonight (City Hall at 6pm) is the big announcement by Lyle Lanely, er.. Roger Brooks on the future of how millions of tax dollars will invested to create an area which will attach businesses willing to invest (risk) millions of their own money on businesses that have to make a significant profit to pay enough taxes to ensure that the city doesn't end up losing money for their investment.
What do we know so far? We have a site selected for the relocation of the Presentation House Gallery and it has received promises a few million dollars for their new building and an annual subsidy of $155,000. The PH Gallery has promised they will fund-raise the rest of the funds and an annual campaign will ensure they are not back to the Council Chambers with their begging bowl asking the fixed subsidy to be increased. Councilors were obviously worried that the fundraising plan was too ambitious but the PH Gallery was very confident of their future financial support.
The reduced Maritime Museum is almost at the same stage as the PH Gallery, Council has indicated that they will receive a like grant from the City to relocate the present museum to the waterfront, in the old Pipe Shop but the plan done by Colliers does not allocate that area to the new Maritime Museum. The City has also spent a large part of a Provincial grant, leftover from the time when a larger formal Maritime Museum was being planned prior to the Province rejecting funding after receiving their business plan and fundraising plan. Of the supporters are demanding millions of tax dollars to "Save the Stern" to serve as a prop with the old (yellow) crane to complement the new but reduced Maritime Museum. Perhaps it was expensive "wants" like this that killed the chance of a large provincial grant and the federal one promised but contingent on the provincial grant.
The Mayor had floated a couple of trial balloons, an aquarium? With the intent of having a draw that also showcased what North Van was about. Imprisoned sea life, I think not. Then there the Ferris wheel, actually I like this one. Visible to seabus traffic and maybe even from Vancouver? It would be part of PNE style arcade and maybe even a hall with slots? Oh well, the hand wringers would protest anyone gambling.
The Outlook had an opening story on this presentation that gave a couple of hints about what might come.
There would be no chain restaurants or retailers, ie no Starbucks. The Outlook has Brooks suggesting a 15,000 sq ft ice rink. Is this to be the big draw the will fill the present and expanded restaurant district as well as the city coffers? Even with a Ferris wheel and big food court and carnival area?
Is this enough of a draw to bypass the challenges of this site? I don't go into the area much as the long slope is quite formidable to those of us with mobility issues. Even with my cane, coming back up slope can be to much at the end of a long day.
We see shortly. I'll update when I return.
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Well, I'm back, just a few points , it should all up on the CNV.org website soon.
The stern issue is put off, Roger's guessimate of about 2 million dollars to move the stern to a possible permanent home in a revamped Waterfront Park was shot down by Councillor Bookham who stated she doubted the Stern could be moved twice. If it was going to the Waterfront Park, it had to be going to a permanent exhibit. I doubt Roger's guess includes the cost of full restoration or the ongoing costs. If the heritage special interest convinced one of their rich West Van buddies to donate about $5 million to move, restore and fund any annual costs, then it is feasible. But special interest groups have a tunnel vision about the righteous of their "causes" and rarely change their position. I think at the end of the day, the Council will end scrapping this expensive symbol.
We should get a Ferris wheel at the end of a new huge Pier and it won't cost us a dime if the a private company owns it. Of course they will take on all the risk and will take all the profit but that's the way it should be.
The other big attraction is the ice rink which will take up the largest part of the whole site at 15,000 sq feet of ice in a 21,000 sq feet footprint. During non-ice times, it could serve as a permanent home of a beach volleyball facility and a music performance facility.
But you should be asking "What the heck are all these shiny things going to cost the taxpayers." I chatted quickly with the Mayor and asked about the financing. I asked whether an arms length organisation could be created to receive a loan and make payments until the loan is paid off. This org would then pay the City a share of the profits. Details should be included with the announcement when the final "action plan" is unveiled in about a month.
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Well, I'm back, just a few points , it should all up on the CNV.org website soon.
The stern issue is put off, Roger's guessimate of about 2 million dollars to move the stern to a possible permanent home in a revamped Waterfront Park was shot down by Councillor Bookham who stated she doubted the Stern could be moved twice. If it was going to the Waterfront Park, it had to be going to a permanent exhibit. I doubt Roger's guess includes the cost of full restoration or the ongoing costs. If the heritage special interest convinced one of their rich West Van buddies to donate about $5 million to move, restore and fund any annual costs, then it is feasible. But special interest groups have a tunnel vision about the righteous of their "causes" and rarely change their position. I think at the end of the day, the Council will end scrapping this expensive symbol.
We should get a Ferris wheel at the end of a new huge Pier and it won't cost us a dime if the a private company owns it. Of course they will take on all the risk and will take all the profit but that's the way it should be.
The other big attraction is the ice rink which will take up the largest part of the whole site at 15,000 sq feet of ice in a 21,000 sq feet footprint. During non-ice times, it could serve as a permanent home of a beach volleyball facility and a music performance facility.
But you should be asking "What the heck are all these shiny things going to cost the taxpayers." I chatted quickly with the Mayor and asked about the financing. I asked whether an arms length organisation could be created to receive a loan and make payments until the loan is paid off. This org would then pay the City a share of the profits. Details should be included with the announcement when the final "action plan" is unveiled in about a month.
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