8 - Sunday, January 26, 1992 ~ North Shore News Time running out for West Van Odeon Forty-year-old theatre could be demolished in February THE GROUP fighting to turn the former West Vancouver Odeon Theatre into an arts and cultural centre is running out of time. The property owner has applied to West Vancouver’s planning department to construct a three- story financial institution on the site, and if it receives council's approvai (it is scheduled to go be- fore council in the next few weeks) the 40-year-old theatre could be demolished next month. The West Vancouver group ACTION (Acknowledging Cre- ative Talent in our Neighborhood) wants to save the existing building and convert it into a mixed-use facility that would include a live theatre for professional and ama- teur groups, an art gallery, reper- tory cinema, space for business and educational groups all supported by a bistro, concession stand and other cash-generating tenants. Although West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager has said he would throw his support behind a new culture centre, West Van- couver Council won't commit to a decision until ic hears from the North Shore Arts Commission's regional facilities study, to which it has referred the matter, The study, undertaken by Van- couver consulting firm Cor- nerstone Planning Group, will assess existing cultural facilities on the North Shore relative to com- munity need. It should be com- By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter plete by March. In the meantime, ACTION spokesman James Hazell said he has learned that the Odeon will be demolished by mid-February. He says it is up to the residents of West Vancouver to speak out now. “People think this (proposed centre) would be just an arts cen- tre. As well as that, it could be used as an entertainment’ and educational facility for youth, a rental facility for businesses and individual classrooms for small meetings. “If West Vancouver wants to go into the future with some sense of its identity and culture, it’s go- ing to have to work on it,’’ said Hazell. He said the reason ACTION has been so adamant about ac- quiring the Odeon site is because there is no other feasible place to build a cultural centre in West Vancouver. S.and is cither too ex- pensive or designated for other uses. “And from a purely business point of view, it’s far better to have something financially $5.6M addition opens at Capilano College B.C. ADVANCED Education and Job Training Minister Tom Perry recently paid his first official visit to North Vancouver’s Capilano College to view a variety of pro- grams, He presided over the opening ceremony for the college’s $5.6- million C Building. The C Building ceremony also celebrated the construction start of the college’s $10.9-million library expansion project. “It is important to have new classroom buildings,’’ said Perry. He added that while B.C. still needs increased access to post- secondary education, better facili- ties lead to better education. © Install oil filter ¢ Complete chassis lube © 16 point safety check © Up to 5 L 10W-30 Pennzoil © Takes only 5/10 minutes ae PENNZOIL Sele tnpricasio® "1 1362 MARINE DRIVE ' NORTH VANCOUVER BES] 8:30-5:30 BES] 8: Nancy Farley, president of the Capilano College board, said the construction of the C Building has immensely improved the college's teaching facilities. “Additional class space, im- proved science labs, a fully- equipped lecture theatre, several seminar rooms and _ instructional offices means we can provide an even better quality of education to our students.”’ The new tibrary building, set for completion next year, also responds to an urgent need, said Farley. The building will be constructed around the existing library, more than tripling its size. "LUBE, OIL & aoe 22°. SAVE *4° “Top quality products on all cars, light trucks and motorhomes. _ Offer expires February 29/92 spree Quali PENNZOGIL bn 980-9115: responsible in the business district.*’ The last thing Ambleside needs, he says, is a financial centre, because there are already five hanks operating in the immediate area. As well, the complex would destroy Ambleside’s village-like atmosphere. The Odeon site comes with a pricetag of close to $4 million; Hazell estimates thai renovations will cost another $2.5 million. One way the site could be ac- quired, he says, is for council to do a municipal tand swap with the owner. That way, the centre could be rented out to the community and run as a foundation. The North Shore Arts Commis- | @ | g@weo a9 sion’s cultural development officer Brenda Berck, who met with AC- TION on Jan. 7, said the group’s idea of a self-supporting cultural centre could work in principle. But she stressed that there are many unknown factors, the key one being whether enough people would use the centre. “What's appealing about their plan is the idea that it would have community groups and businesses in the same site. But you have to have figures to prove it will sus- tain itself. “What does ACTION mean when they say some tenants will support the theatre? I believe if the group gets the appropriate data and figures together, that Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver is now accepting applications from single mothers for their sons, ages 7-12 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 434-1411 ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER Barristers & Solicitors Personal Injury ||; AFTER HOURS C ¥ Ont FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION timinal Matters Only 926-3181 986-4366 986. 2286 #300-1401 LONSDALE, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. kind of detail will at least give people a better idea of what tiey’re talking about.”’ Berck added that she personally is not convinced that the Odeon site is the only place a cultural centre could be erected. “Yes, Ambleside would be a~ good draw, but it’s aot in- conceivable that it be in another location.”’ Hazell, who has lobbied to save the sight since last August, says the whole issue has turned into a “heavy-duty political football’’ that no one wants to carry. “Lm still optimistic about sav- ing the site, but it’s up to the community to start writing letters now,’ he said. 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