Classifieds 986-6222 Group wants WV Odeon as site for cultural centre WEST VANCOUVER artists and local businesspeople are scrambling to rais enough funds to purchase the West Vancouver Odeon Theatre site and turn it iato a cultural centre. The growing movement to save the theatre site for a culmural cen- tre ots being spearheaded by Marine Drive merchant James Hazell, who says he has the baeck- ing of over 400 local merchants, the local arts council and ao hest of conmmumty groups. The group wants ro convert the existing theatre mite an anh contre that would ineiude a live theatre and osheatre school Geaded by director Scou Swan, plus a reper: tory cinema apd ani ist gallers in the rotunda. “That would mega we'd finalh have a cultural cemtre for West Vareeuser which at the moment is sorely lacking." said) Hazell, “Every citizen that’s come by here has said they wished there was something like this down here. ft would help the merchants too — we're dying down here.” The property owner, an off- shore investor represented by Vancouver Hi-tite Construction Lid., is asking $3.98 million for the land and movie house, which has been sitting empty since January when Cineples-Odeon’s lease expired, said Hazell. He said plans to build a mix- ed-use office building on the site have been shelved and that Hi- Lite is prepared to consider a proposal from the group. But the company wants a detailed business plan plus a fi- nancial commitment by carly next week, a deadline Hazell is uncer- tain he can meet without the help of West Vancouver District Coun- cil. Right now, the group can come up with roughly $1.6 million, he said. “We might nave a chance at this but council has to get off their butts and do something,** said Hazell. “We'll be fools if the North Shore loses this opportuni- ty.” By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter Mest Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager sand he would support a cultural centre on the site. “When coupe approved othe (redevelopment) permit ter che POOPeEEy OVD Ge Sear ie rh was a Fehuchint approval because count! foses the theatre A fot of com. THULTEES rnembers want te see it Wevitlyeed as a new centre for sulture, and. certainty, commer would be happy to hase a theatre Pack Ga hat location." But Sager siid he hats reserva ons about the cost ot such an endeavor. “Ho there was some ways a group would assist in taping funds, then ihsounds terrific, But it would be a costly endeavor, und there is no more money in the budeet this year, Te would have to go through the normal budgetary process.” He is viso concerned that the groups supporting the centre are being rushed into something that “takes time and an army of tal- ented people to develop. There's no way council could consider anything in one or two weeks —- we don’t even have a meeting un- Ul Sept. 9,°" he said. Hazell, meanwhile, said he doesn't understand why, if council has already agreed West) Van couver needs a cultural centre, it doesn’t seize the opportunity now rather than) wait five years and pay significantly more. “Pim not willing to let this one go, and the sooner that Mark re- alizes thar the better. He's a fool if he doesn’t act on this. Is nota “cute’ thing people have come up with — our plan is fiscally responsible. Everyone is interested in it from the Squamish Indians to the schools to the YMCA." index BW Automotives. 22.00.02. 23 BB Trevor Lautens ........ 4 @ Classified Ads. ......... 32 MM Mailbox ....0000.000.. 7 @ Ecolnfo...............94 MM Paul St. Pierre 9 @ Home & Garden ....... 45 BM Whats Going On... .. 13 Weather Saturday. mostly cloudy. Sunday sunny. Highs 22°C. Second Claus Regtstration Number 3885 tes Seago REACHING EVERY DO Office, Editorial 985-2131 Dispiay Advertising 980-0511 Distribution 986-1337 FRIDAY _| | The Audi 80 offers affordable luxury Automotives: 23 88 pages NEWS photo Mike Waketield Block party cleanup RYAN BELL (in foreground) headed a crew as part of the 10th annual Sunnycrest Or. biock party cleanup. The team (Frederick Keitel, Peter Keitel, Shane Cohn and Sean Beil, left to tight sitting on wall) spent two evenings clearing out creck banks in the area. NVD Mayor Dykeman (centre) was on hand to thank the boys for their efforts. : cxtusoese ra Liaswee mera eee Sas Se ae ra on 2 peas NORTH SHORE SINCE 1969