The chair of New Westminster's Arts and Culture Commission, Coun. Bill Harper,  says it's too early to comment on whether or not the city will take over the Massey Theatre.

The theatre is home to the Royal City Musical Theatre, the Royal City Youth Ballet, and the New Westminster Symphony.

"The city is already in the thoes of building a new civic centre with a new theatre downtown," Harper told the Straight by phone from the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. "It would be a smaller theatre. It will be one that will serve many of the needs of the city."

The school board owns the Massey Theatre, which is used by community, educational, and professional groups.

Atelier Pacific Architecture recently prepared a  building-assessment study of the Massey Theatre  for the New Westminster school board. The report estimated it would cost $18.2 million to upgrade the 1,260-seat  facility.

Harper described this as a "huge cost", and wouldn't make any commitment that the city will  take over the building. He said he hasn't had time to read the Atelier Pacific Architecture report.

"The other issue is the school board doesn't want any part of it," Harper said. "They don't have any budget for it, and the question is: who is going to take it over? Who is going to run it? Who is going to put money into it? The city is in no position at the moment even to comment on that because we haven't discussed that."

The new theatre in the $35-million civic centre will  have between 300 and 400 seats, according to the 100-page New Westminster Theatre Study, which was completed last year.

In Vancouver, the Stanley Theatre was saved and refurbished in the late 1990s after a former NPA-controlled council voted in favour of allowing a 44,000 square-foot density transfer. This moved air rights from the theatre  to the Wall Centre in return for the developer making a $1.4-million  payment to the Arts Club Theatre.

The Straight asked Harper if something like this could be done to pay for a larger theatre in the civic centre. "We can do whatever we wish in that regard," he replied, quickly adding that the project is limited by a $35-million budget.

"We have to acquire property and do all sorts of things," Harper said. "You're asking me questions that maybe in a few months I'll be able to answer."

He didn't say if a density transfer could be used to pay for upgrades to the Massey Theatre. The Massey Theatre Society's executive director, Jessica Schroeder, has insisted that the building is a safe, functional, viable theatre.

Harper said the school board  will demolish the  New Westminster secondary school because it's too old to maintain. He also mentioned that its above unmarked graves of former residents of the city.

"Right now, it sits on top of a cemetary and has to be moved off that," Harper said. "It has to be placed on  [land that's]  left over."

Unfortunately for the local performing arts community, what's left over on the school board site includes the Massey Theatre. This has prompted Schneider to express concerns about  its potential demolition.

The city owns adjacent land in the block, which also includes a track with stadium seating. Harper  didn't sound  keen on putting the school on city land.

"If they build the high school on the track site, that means we have to turn around and build a brand new track,"  he said. "Where is the track going to sit in the community? You can't find pieces of property in our community that big."

New Westminster mayor Wayne Wright did not return a call from the Straight by the end of the working day on October 1.

Related story: New Westminster's Massey Theatre faces uncertain future