[MonctonRad]

Dennis Cochrane, the President of the MH35 Group had a commentary on the op-ed page of the T&T today.

Takeaways from his article:

- the auditorium at MH35 would be the largest performing arts space in Atlantic Canada.
- the gymnasium space in behind the auditorium would be the new home of the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada (offices, rehearsal spaces etc).
- the ABT of Canada sponsored Centre for Arts and Education would also be located in the gymnasium space too.
- MH35 is designed to be self sustaining. It will achieve this goal by renting out space in the rest of the former high school to generate income.
- this is why they want the public library to relocate. The library may pay only $1 per month in rent to the Blue Cross Centre, but they also contribute nearly $570,000 per year in maintenance fees for the common areas of the Blue Cross Centre
- it is this $570,000 that MH35 is after in order to help pay for ongoing costs for the MH35 Centre.
- the city would gain immensely in property taxes on the renovated MH35 Centre. The value of the building after renovations is estimated to be $50M. This would help offset the costs of the rental fee for the public library.
- it was insinuated that the library board is being uncooperative with MH35, dragging their feet on meeting with MH35, and not providing a list of their needs and wants in a new library space. Now that some of their concerned have been voiced, adjustments have been made in the design to accommodate these concerns (such as the expanded atrium space where the courtyard now stands).
- the proposed central atrium for the library will be over 40 ft tall.
- the atrium would provide the new library with more useable space than they currently have in their Blue Cross location.
- the architect is prepared to make further revisions to increase useable space, such as an optional loft.
- the option also exists to move the regional component of the library to the second floor, creating even more space for the city library.
- all additional costs for such revisions to the plan will be born by MH35, and not by the city or the library board. These costs ultimately will be recovered by rental payments (by the library and by other tenants as well). The annual library rental costs however will remain at $570k.