2 1 W ed n esd ay, Feb ru ary 10, 2010 O A K V ILLE B E A V E R w w w .o a k v ille b e a v e r.co m Questions still linger over QEPs future n By Tina Depko METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP The air was filled with excitement at the open house for the new Queen Elizabeth Park (QEP) Community Centre Thursday at Town Hall. Many local residents, including a good repre- sentation from the local arts community, were out to see the latest drawings and photos of the $23.3 million centre, slated to open in fall 2011. The 144,000-sq.-ft. centre located in south- west Oakville will offer 54,000 sq. ft. of designat- ed arts space. Among the many arts amenities in that space are a dance studio, gallery, clean and dirty arts studios, music instruction rooms, black box rehearsal space, museum display space and a set storage room. Bill Nesbitt, supervisor of Oakville Museum, was among those happy with the latest floor plans and images. He said museum staff looks forward to presenting exhibits in the new space, as well as having room for storage. As it stands right now, we have storage space for our artifact collection, so that will let us move artifacts out of our coach house down at the Erchless Estate and that will free up that build- ing for public use, he said. The display space is going to act as a waiting area for people, so Im excited about the traffic that well get through there. Also, with the flexible display cases in here, well be able to do all kinds of changing exhibi- tions. While the final floor plan has at last been determined after much consultation with arts groups, Megan Whittington, executive director of the Oakville Arts Council, says there are still more questions. It is great that were finally here and every- one is really excited about it, but theres ques- tions about what the operational model is going to look like and how much is it going to cost (to rent space), she said at the open house. The big question is really how much is it going to cost and is it going to be feasible for the very groups that pushed to make it happen. The Town, that will be managing the space, has already begun a consultation process to find these answers. It has hired a consulting firm that is working with Town staff and members of the arts com- munity to create the operating plan and gover- nance model. This will include a business plan and a budget. The consultants will be holding focus groups with arts groups this month to hear their com- ments and concerns on the issue. Were asking them to help us find a vision for this facility and principles around how it should be operated and that is where we are going to start getting into details like schedule, what rooms groups will need and what nights they will need, said Nina de Vaal, director of recreation and culture with the Town. Were also going to be discussing the issue of cost. We recognize, we know and weve listened to the groups and theyve told us that a lot of these groups dont have anywhere to go right now and they are not paying anything, while other groups have been around a long time and have an infra- structure and funds. The final report is expected to go before town council by the end of June. As for the actual building, the project is on schedule, according to Phil Fenech, an architect with Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners, which is spearheading the design of the project. Demolition began in September and is near- ly complete. Next, were going to put the project out to tender, said Fenech. After we evaluate the best and lowest price, they will start construction. He expects the nature of the project will keep construction on schedule. Theres always challenges on keeping on time, but on the other hand, they are not doing a lot of exterior construction, so weather is not that big of a deal for them since they are renovat- ing, he said. Another step forward in the design of the building is the final decision around the parking lot. This was an issue of contention between local residents and the Town. Following consultation with neighbours and redesigns, it has been determined the parking lot will have 400 spaces. There will be a 24-metre buffer between the parking lot and the properties along the east side. Trees will also be planted along the buffer. For information about QEP, including the latest drawings and images, visit A NEW FACE: Anticipated exterior of the new Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre.