YARC location sparks debate in council

By Michael Gorman

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Yarmouth town councillors can no longer be accused of keeping their opinions quiet when it comes to the site of a new arts centre.

At least week's regular council meeting the issue came up just as the meeting was winding done and, in the end, extended the meeting by almost 30 minutes.

Councillor Esther Dares started the conversation by saying that she thought a new arts centre is an opportunity for the downtown that should be taken advantage of for a number of reasons.

"If we don't do something to steer it this way then we're letting people down," she said. "We're letting our taxpayers down and we're also letting the downtown down."

Dares said that the downtown is Yarmouth's identifying area and, as such, needs to strongly be considered as the location for a new arts centre.

"Lots of people want this facility but I don't think everybody wants it on Parade Street. There needs to be an experience downtown. A downtown full of offices doesn't do that."

Some people criticized council when, at a public meeting several weeks ago to discuss support for a new arts centre and possible locations, they only observed the discussion rather than taking part (even though it was explained prior to the start of the meeting that this would be the case).

The meeting at the Wesleyan Church drew a crowd of about 300, most of whom were vocal supporters of a new building remaining on Parade Street. With this in mind, what stood out more at the meeting was what wasn't said — not one downtown business operator spoke at the meeting and only a few were even in attendance.

In light of this fact, although several other councillors around the table shared Dares's view that the best place for an arts centre is in the downtown, some weren't prepared to go on pushing the issue.

"Where does leadership end and ramming it down our citizens' throats begin," asked Deputy Mayor Martin Pink. Pink said the meeting was well advertised and was an opportunity for anyone who had an opinion — regardless of what it was — to speak.

"Why wasn't there one merchant there to stand up and speak for the downtown? They weren't there. They didn't speak on it.

"I would very much like to see it right down on our waterfront . . . (But) how far do we go with it."

This argument didn't wash with councillor Clifford Hood. Hood, who was unable to attend the meeting because he was on council business elsewhere, said he's not satisfied from reports he's heard about the meeting that it was run in a way that encouraged differing views to be voiced. He called the meeting a "stage-managed production to bulldoze (council) into making a decision."

Hood also voiced concerns about Th'YARC's ability to complete to project as presented in light of the fact that their present plan calls for a 25,000-square foot facility — much greater than the 14,000 square feet recommended by consultants. He said the Mariners Centre wouldn't exist in its present form if council wasn't willing to take heat and stand up for that project.

"I'll be standing up . . . to support a vision of a state-of-the-art arts facility . . . located somewhere in the downtown of Yarmouth," he said.

Councillor Murray Judge said that although it was fine to have the debate, the reality of the situation, he said, is that Th'YARC's board is a long way from raising the estimated $1.5 million they will need to contribute to the project. He also said that the development of the Parade Street area should be a consideration.