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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 26, 2015 | 4 Preferred Downtown plan sees condos on firehall and theatre lands by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Options for the creation of a Downtown Cultural Hub (DHC) faced no small amount of resident concern at a public meeting at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Wednesday evening. The Town's DHC study, underway since late 2013, is exploring revitalization of the downtown through creation of a cultural and performing arts space -- a performing arts centre, art gallery, library, outdoor program space, indoor cultural space or digital hub. Town staff presented three options to a crowd of more than 100 people. They'll go before council in the fall. "What we want to do is get your feedback on these options," said Jane Clohecy, the Town's Commissioner of Community Development. "Over the summer we want you to provide comments to us." Clohecy noted this is a long-term project, expected to take 20 years or more to implement. Option 1 The first option would see a modest renovation of the Oakville Public Library and Oakville Centre for the parking is an issue as an estimated 360 spaces are required, but only 127 available. Option 2 The second plan would see a larger renovation on the site, including the creation of a new 750-seat main theatre at the Oakville Centre along with a 325-seat secondary theatre. The larger lobby , new restaurant/ lounge, expanded Oakville Galleries and library space, amphitheatre and multi-use space, parking and new residential building remain in the plan. This 289,000-square-foot project would feature a net capital cost of $90 million-$115 million and an operating cost of $6.2 million. Town staff again took issue with parking as 411 spaces are required and only 127 available. Option 3 The third option would spread the changes across a wider area. It would see the library and Oakville Galleries moved to the former Post Office site at 193 Church St. where a full gallery and digital library would be offered. The entire area currently occupied by the Oakville Centre and Oakville Public Library, would be redeveloped with the performing arts centre taking The preferred Option 3 in the Town of Oakville's Downtown Cultural Hub study. | courtesy Town of Oakville Performing Arts facilities at Lakeshore Road and Navy Street. Renovations at the Oakville Centre would yield a 495-seat main theatre and a new secondary 325 theatre, as well as a larger lobby and new restaurant/lounge. The library and Oakville Galleries facilities would be expanded with a full gallery and digital library offered. An amphitheatre would be established behind the library and a multi-use flexible space for markets and concerts, in front of the library, on Navy Street. "When those things are not going on, you could continue to drive north and south on that section of Navy Street," said Joe Berridge of Urban Strategies consulting group. Underground parking and some surface parking would exist. The firehall to the north of this site, which is moving to the Oakville Arena area, would be replaced by a 12-storey residential building. Option 1 is a 272,000-square-foot project with a net capital cost of $70 million-$75 million and an operating cost of $6.2 million. Town staff said this option makes only minimal improvements and the library's current location. The redevelopment of the performing arts centre would result in a new 750-seat main theatre, new 325-seat secondary theatre, new lobby, new restaurant/lounge, new space for meetings/conferences, and new cultural innovation and program space. Plans for the amphitheatre and multi-use space would remain. Here, not only would the firehall property be redeveloped into a 12-storey residential building, the current Oakville Centre property would be redeveloped into an eightstorey residential/mixed use group of buildings. The plan also provides 334 parking spaces -- more than the 307 required. This 337,000-square-foot project would be the most expensive option with a net capital cost of $126 million-$163 million and an operating cost of $7.9 million. Town staff prefers this option as it provides new high-quality facilities that meet current and projected needs; has revenue potential from residential development; better opportunities for revenue generation; and, dispersed cultural facilities, which are expected to share reinvestment benefits across the downtown, among other things. see Residents on p.13