Council explores ‘cultural hub’ options

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This article was published 03/04/2023 (946 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While still considering a renovation of the existing library and art gallery building to incorporate the museum and form a “cultural hub,” the City of Brandon has come up with “Plan B” — an entirely new building.

Council will be asked at its regular meeting this evening to support as the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba as it seeks to secure funding for a conceptual design of a new building that it, the Western Manitoba Regional Library and the Brandon General Museum and Archives would call home.

The option of a new building is being examined because the future of The Town Centre, which is connected to the current location of the library and art gallery, is uncertain. The downtown mall has been listed for sale for years.

“We’re going to be doing something one way or another with the library/art gallery, and we just want to make sure that in order to move forward that we’re looking at all options,” Mayor Jeff Fawcett said.

Meanwhile, an option to renovate the current building occupied by the gallery and library and bring in the Brandon General Museum and Archives to create a “cultural hub” is still on the table if the building isn’t sold, the mayor said.

A conceptual redesign of the existing library and gallery building was completed in February 2022. As stated in a report submitted to council for tonight’s meeting, the idea is to modernize the library area, make space for the museum on the main floor, improve access to the gallery on the second floor and link all of these uses through common areas.

However, the report also notes that the city’s application to the Manitoba Arts, Culture and Sport Community Fund for $5 million, half the cost of the redesign project, was rejected as it wasn’t “shovel-ready.”

In addition, the report continues, after the conceptual redesign was completed the future of the adjacent Town Centre “has become less certain,” which the mayor said is a reference to the fact that The Town Centre has been listed for sale.

While the city owns the building that houses the library and gallery, access to these is through The Town Centre and the centre contains the parking for both.

The uncertainty around The Town Centre is why city administration started to look at a new building. According to administration, as of October 2022, the cost of a new structure similar in size and amenities to the conceptual redesign option is $17 million to $22 million.

Under the new building plan, two possible sites on city-owned property beside each other on the north side of the 900 block of Princess Avenue, across from the Kristopher Campbell Memorial Skatepark, are proposed.

One of those sites is that of the former Brown Block, which has been an open lot since 2011 when the structure partly collapsed and was then completely demolished. The other is just south of the Steppin’ Time Dance Studio.

The cost estimate of a new structure is based on a 45,000-square-foot, three-storey building and minimum of 40 parking stalls.

Administration recommends the city work with the library, gallery and museum to obtain a conceptual design for a new building as it could help with grant applications for the new building.

Municipalities are not eligible for the grant being sought for the design, so the city is being asked to support the gallery’s application. While grant funding is pending, council is asked to approve the removal of $25,000 from the Library Arts Building Reserve to spend on the conceptual design.

Also on the agenda for Monday’s meeting is the return of a downtown office for the Brandon Police Service, an update to the parks and recreation bylaw and an update on city finances.

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