Coun. Lorrie Williams says she will seek a solution for Massey Theatre
The future of the 1,260-seat Massey Theatre is in doubt after a New Westminster school-board commissioned report suggested it would cost $18.2 million to upgrade the building.
In an interview with the Georgia Straight, New Westminster councillor Lorrie Williams pointed out that the school board owns the theatre.
However, Williams, who is also president of the New Westminster Symphony, added that that she is reluctant to see the demolition of the 60-year-old building.
"Certainly, we're going to negotiate with them," she said. "We're going to do what's best for the city, first of all....I'll do everything I can to help and try to get a solution."
As for the New Westminster Symphony, Williams said it will have to find another location if the theatre is torn down.
The school board plans on replacing nearby New Westminster secondary school. The Massey Theatre Society worries that the performing arts centre will be knocked down to make room for the new high school.
Williams noted that even if the upgrade costs half the amount stated in the school board-commissioned report, it would still be a huge challenge for the city to undertake on its own.
"Where are we going to get $9 million now in these tough times?" Williams said. "It's terrible. We would love it to be a regional theatre. We would love everyone to chip in and say, 'Yeah, we all need it. It's a medium-size theatre. We don't have one that size.' "
Comments
3 Comments
T. Coupland
Oct 5, 2009 at 1:05am
Okay, its needs versus wants. Simple, what does New Westminster need and what does it want. All emotional ties set aside. Should have been a budget over the last 60 years for repairs. Any theatre needs to budget in each year a repair fund. I've been there before, its decent. Schools lead way to the future, theatres are a money losing business these days. Times are changing, you can't stop that. Not here, not down in the states, anywhere. Things will be torn down and if its called for again, it will be rebuilt, bigger and stronger then before. If it didn't have government funding, it wouldn't be around much longer anyways.
John Oliver
Oct 5, 2009 at 9:33am
The Massey theatre is among the most efficiently-run theatres around. When T. Coupland says "should have been a budget over the last 60 years for repairs," he would seem to accept the report that says 18.5 million in repairs are required. This is the cost to implement ALL RECOMMENDATIONS in the report, but the report also says that the building is in basically good shape and nowhere does it say that 18.5 million needs to be spent right now. The City already has this theatre, so it is NOT needs vs wants. Citizens of New Westminster do not want their theatre torn down for no good reason. The School Board and the City must work together to resolve the issue after they have done a thorough analysis. Passing the buck simply will not do.
Krista
Oct 5, 2009 at 3:46pm
As someone who actually GOES to the school in question, I think it is only fair to say that the students here do not want this theater torn down. Massey is not a burden to the city - it is an asset. Students here who are in the music and dance programs are not the ones advocating the removal of this theater. After we lost the only thing resembling a stage due to an unsuccessful renovation, Massey is the best and only performance space that we have. Even if it was rebuilt on another location, the school would be anywhere near it, nor would it have free use of it.
This is where we perform our musicals, our band and choir concerts, and our dance shows.
If I had to choose between a new school and keeping Massey, I would pick the latter, leaks and all.
While schools may "lead the way" to our future, what good is a future without culture? This city can't afford to lose another venue for the arts. We want a community...not simply a place to live.