Halifax's booming population puts a squeeze on performance venues

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

We need a performing arts space of some size bigger than the Cohn, but I really don't think this site is ideal with park/institutional space on 3 sides, residential on the other, and no easy access to it. To accommodate the 2000+ souls who might want to attend events it would need a better location.

Agreed. And can we all agree the Centennial pool, while perhaps an important piece of architecture, is a terrible facility? It needs a complete overhaul. It's footprint barely fits one 50m pool. There's no spectator space/amenities, no practice/warm-up pool, terrible change rooms and cross training areas. Climate control is awful. Build a proper aquatic centre in the city.

[Summerville]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

We need a performing arts space of some size bigger than the Cohn, but I really don't think this site is ideal with park/institutional space on 3 sides, residential on the other, and no easy access to it. To accommodate the 2000+ souls who might want to attend events it would need a better location.

How about the Casino?...it is connected to parking garages and would be near the revised ferry terminal

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

Agreed. And can we all agree the Centennial pool, while perhaps an important piece of architecture, is a terrible facility? It needs a complete overhaul. It's footprint barely fits one 50m pool. There's no spectator space/amenities, no practice/warm-up pool, terrible change rooms and cross training areas. Climate control is awful. Build a proper aquatic centre in the city.

Indeed. Our aquatic facilities in the inner city aren't actually all that bad when you consider the Centennial Pool, the new YMCA pool, the Commons pool, Dalplex, and a bit further afield Zatzman and Needham (though that is in need of its long-planned upgrade). We certainly do better than some cities (which I was reminded of when I was in Calgary a couple of weeks ago and took a walk past its abandoned central YMCA, the closure of which eliminated the last public swimming option anywhere in, or adjacent to, the core).

But renovating or replacing the Centennial into a more fully realized, modern aquatic centre would a great idea for this location, and would not preclude adding a ton of other uses to the site.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Summerville

How about the Casino?...it is connected to parking garages and would be near the revised ferry terminal

I think this is a great idea. The performance venue space could come from the parking garage structure that is already connected to the casino. Renovate for 3000+ seats. Looks like the Bruce Guthro Theatre (formerly Schooner room) abuts the parking garage and could be converted and expanded plus an upper level added.

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