Tuesday, September 08, 2015

More Tax Dollars Go Into 25 Victoria Rd.

More Lipstick on a Pig??

Last year the previous council gave the go ahead to pour more tax dollars into the money pit on Victoria Rd. Without doubt, the best example of complete disregard for how tax dollars are spent in Nanaimo.

The last waste of tax money was on the Nicol Street side of the building where $200,000 was spent replacing the siding. To date taxpayers have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into a $300,000 building that has never been proven seismically sound and has even been described as earthquake bait.

The group who had previously operated from this building led by Camella Tang vacated the building as of June 30/14 after having being paid $11,350 to manage the facility until the end of the year. Apparently the city had no mechanism in place to recover the funds paid for the second half of the year.

allvoices

17 comments:

  1. I'd suggest you do an analysis of the economic impact of Harbour City Theatre on downtown, especially given that is is heavily booked throughout the year, and get back to us.

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    1. The whining for the government trough is endless. Too bad the money is not.

      I would like to invite theatre proponents to the Trough Feeders Annonymous meeting every Tuesday. Turn left at the Money Pit Inn, left again on Socialism Way and arrive at the Squealing Pig Inn.

      Enough of the Wants and have taxes pay for the Needs of society.

      R.C. Stearman

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    2. Mr Moher, Would this be a study like the Arts Economic Impact Study paid for by taxpayers through the NEDC? The study which also "beefed-up" the arts community's impact by including those professionals who work in TV, Radio, Newspapers, Movie Theatres, etc.

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  2. You can factor into your study the hours of volunteer labour put in both by the management of the building and those who use it. We look forward to the results.

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    1. Mr. Moher, Do you pay taxes in Nanaimo - to cover the cost taxpayers incur?

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  3. Yes, I understand the building is being better utilized under new direction, however, that does not make 'that' building worth the number of tax dollars it has required. All-in if all engineer recommended repairs are done, there will be about $1.5 million sunk into that building, and that does NOT include any seismic upgrades.

    In fact I was going to inquire as to the 'gate' from the recently held Fringe Festival, which I believe was held at this venue, which I have heard was a success?.

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  4. Given their success can we assume there will be no need for taxpayer support next year? Being heavily booked, does not equate to economic impact except for those renting the facility.

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  5. I've been in this building a handful of times. It's a complete dump. Any good developer would tell you it is a tear down. I hate seeing tax dollars go into something that will eventually have to come down.

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  6. There are many recreational facilities and sports fields in this city that do not bring in any income and cost a heck of a lot more. Why is it that the arts and any monies spent on them are always under attack?

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  7. It is not the 'arts' that are the issue, it is spending that kind of money on that particular building.

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  8. "That particular building" is the only affordable venue for live theatre in this city. Instead money has been spent on huge white elephants like the conference centre which does not even have a room usable for live theatre, a cruise ship dock, need I go on? For a fraction of that kind of money "that particular building" could be made safe and affordable for the growing arts and theatre community that chose to open businesses and work in the downtown core. This brings arts and culture into a neighborhood that is in dire need of a complete face lift.

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    1. I agree that the city has wasted too much of my money building the conference centre, the port authority with the cruise dock and also the city with the old, old Victoria Road theatre as well.

      NO government money should have been used for all these white elephants.

      K. Shaw

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  9. I am not sure how listing all the other ways tax dollars have been wasted, strengthens your argument for this building. Are you saying because we are not wasting as much money on this facility as we have elsewhere, makes this building a good place to spend $1.5 million? I would have thought for the same, or even less, the old theatre next door would have been a better opportunity. Or perhaps put the million and a half towards the proposed study theatre attached to the Port Theatre, which would seem like a far better venue for all of the arts community in Nanaimo.

    Don't misunderstand, I believe the arts community is a valuable asset to Nanaimo and adds greatly to the very fabric of our city, I simply, see burning tax dollars on that building as being a really bad idea.

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  10. That should read 'studio' theatre, not study theatre. Proofing AFTER you post is always annoying............. LOL

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  11. As an member of the arts community, I want to know if city taxpayers will subsidize and support my studio? Honestly Frank Moher, if the economic impact is so great and the Theatre is so popular, why can't the management support it privately? Should not all arts and culture be supported equally? Not only do I have to finance my own studio, but now I am expected to support other peoples?

    But getting back to the article, is this perfume on a pig? The city has spent a fortune already. Possibly the new management can find a better facility and put together a viable business plan. The city may consider donating the proceeds of the sale of the building to stop the ongoing hemorrhaging of tax monies.

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  12. Mr. Taylor writes: "Don't misunderstand, I believe the arts community is a valuable asset to Nanaimo and adds greatly to the very fabric of our city, I simply, see burning tax dollars on that building as being a really bad idea." Then propose a better one. Don't guess. Do some research, learn something, and propose something better. But realistic. - Frank Moher

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  13. Frank Moher,
    are you going to support my studio? How about all the other private studios? Why should your pet pet project get city financing when I have to support my own?

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