The president of the board of directors of Th’YARC in Yarmouth says they are moving forward with their plans to find a suitable location for a new arts centre.
They have always said that their present location on Parade Street is the most suitable.
Mitch Bonnar says they have not asked for any funding from the Town of Yarmouth, only a letter of support which he says they have not received.
He says the issue goes back 10 years.
“The Th’YARC board had approval, in essence, to move ahead with an $8.6 million project. It was supported by all the municipal councils, including the town and at the very last moment they (Town of Yarmouth) withdrew their support, for whatever reason, and scuttled it, essentially throwing $8.6 million dollars in the garbage can.”
Bonnar says the Th’YARC’s plan calls for a 24,000 square foot facility that would include a theatre with enough room to accommodate all the artistic groups.
The Town of Yarmouth is moving forward with its own plans to build an arts and culture centre in the Collins Street area.
He says the town has never addressed the Th’YARC’s concerns about the Collins Street site.
“Collins Street is contaminated. It’s a known fact. They did a Phase 2 on it and it is contaminated. There is a man who lives in the middle of it and we are not interested. We told them the same thing 10 years ago that we’re not interested in expropriating the property.”
Bonnar says Th’YARC is a not-for profit facility which has been around for 40 years.
He says the Town of Yarmouth is essentially asking the board to become tenants of a building that would be owned by the town.
The full interview with Mitch Bonnar will air this Sunday morning on the Y95-CJLS Weekender.
