389 replies to this topic

[Jill]

I hope the plan will include removing the ugly modern staircase added to the Spencer house. What an eyesore.

[D.L.]

I'd like to see this addition in context of the existing "modern" portion of the gallery.

By the openness of the lobby shown in that rendering I'd say the 1970s brick portion of the gallery will be torn down. The new structure seen in the rendering is right where the existing building is. The view is from Moss St. - https://maps.google....,242.39,,0,-9.6
 

[VicHockeyFan]

If someone does not take Raid to that ant, it's not going anywhere.

[29er Radio]

It is a crying shame that they are deciding to stay in that location and sink good money into
it so the chances of the gallery ever locating closer to the core will diminish to nothing.
The art gallery there does nothing for our town in my humble opinion and would far better serve the region if it was part of the core.

[thundergun]

Although I would prefer it in the central core, it would have been great to even have it in another 'urban village' area. In either case it would have more visibility, foot traffic, access to public transportation, etc.

I went by there late last year for an exhibit, which was excellent, but the fact that it exists often slips my mind. Heavy advertising and a rainy Saturday was the combination that convinced me to drop by.

[Greg]

I'd prefer it was downtown as well, but sometimes I think we lose perspective because we have such a compact core area. I mean, the AGGV is like 2k from the Empress or 1.5k from the Bay Centre. It's not exactly out in the boonies. 

[Holden West]

Now that we have a couple of new mixed-use developments on Fort east of Cook already built or on the way, peoples' perceptions may change--if the art gallery can't come to Downtown, bring Downtown to the art gallery!

[29er Radio]

I have no idea what the stats are, but I bet an art gallery enjoys a far larger proportion of tourists through its doors compared to locals. If that is true, then we might ask where we want the tourists to go that would benefit the most locals. If the city were looking to foster a budding artistic community with cheap loft space and funky local retail then plopping the Art gallery in the middle of that would be a huge benefit to the local economy. AS it stands, any commercial hub able to take advantage of he art gallery are out of eye shot and probably not on a tourist's list of thing to do.

[gumgum]

The art gallery really isn't that far from downtown. Hell, from downtown I bet it's no more distant than the length of Central Park.

[Bingo]

The art gallery really isn't that far from downtown. Hell, from downtown I bet it's no more distant than the length of Central Park.

 

The Art Gallery is uphill,  about 16 football fields from City Hall.

[D.L.]

I think the issue is that it's not on a main road surrounded by other civic and commercial buildings. It's in a residential neighbourhood where it gets forgotten about

[jonny]

I think the issue is that it's not on a main road surrounded by other civic and commercial buildings. It's in a residential neighbourhood where it gets forgotten about

 

Yes. Up in Rockland is a terrible location.

 

A great place for a new Art Gallery would be right on the harbour of Wharf Street, or even at the old Capital 6 property.

[Holden West]

I have no idea what the stats are, but I bet an art gallery enjoys a far larger proportion of tourists through its doors compared to locals. If that is true, then we might ask where we want the tourists to go that would benefit the most locals. If the city were looking to foster a budding artistic community with cheap loft space and funky local retail then plopping the Art gallery in the middle of that would be a huge benefit to the local economy. AS it stands, any commercial hub able to take advantage of he art gallery are out of eye shot and probably not on a tourist's list of thing to do.

 

Some years back there was an idea to relocate the art gallery to that big old building at the end of store street--the one with the smokestack. Maybe it would have been an economic and environmental disaster but it possibly could have been a massive boon to Rock Bay and all the things you mention would have come true. 

[29er Radio]

The art gallery really isn't that far from downtown. Hell, from downtown I bet it's no more distant than the length of Central Park.

There is lots of stuff to do at either end of central park, with all the joys that is central park in the middle.

 

The fed building for sale across from tourist info building could be an option for the gallery. Hell there are lots of options. Imagine if our fore fathers had only envisaged a town that existed inside the fort walls.

[Mike K.]

It is a crying shame that they are deciding to stay in that location and sink good money into
it so the chances of the gallery ever locating closer to the core will diminish to nothing.
The art gallery there does nothing for our town in my humble opinion and would far better serve the region if it was part of the core.

 

YES!

 

The AGGV should sell their entire Moss Street property and build a world-class facility downtown. Redeveloping the Moss Street location is such a shame and sells us so short

[Hotel Mike]

I have to say that various boards over the years at the Art Gallery tried really hard to figure out an appropriate downtown space. There were committees, site visits and careful thought put into how a move could come about. The money was never there, not government, not private donors. I think the plans for Moss Street represent a final resignation that downtown just ain't gonna happen for them. 

[jonny]

For $21M they could build a space anywhere they wanted to in the CRD.

[Bingo]

I think the issue is that it's not on a main road surrounded by other civic and commercial buildings. It's in a residential neighbourhood where it gets forgotten about

 

And if you're driving, it's off a one way street heading out of town, anywhere else but downtown you can't get there easily.

[Nparker]

As others have mentioned it's not that the AGGV is located a great distance from downtown, but it is practically hidden from view. I bet 50% of the residents in the area wouldn't be able to tell you where it is. 

[gumgum]

The Art Gallery is uphill,  about 16 football fields from City Hall.

The length of Central Park is a smudge short of 40 football fields long.