Round Table #2: Save The Coliseum
Held on Aug 19th @ the Cactus 🌵 club on Jasper Ave.
Submissions by David Kowalek & Guest.
From our Second Round Table Discussion:
One can easily appreciate all we discussed.
Emphasize reusing and refurbishing the Colosseum (lower cost to reuse than rebuild.)
The fact that the Edmonton Coliseum was over built, meant to last.
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Tennis
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Three on Three basketball
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Beach volleyball
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Bmx pedal bikes
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Motocross
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Ping pong tournaments
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Glass cage squash
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Wrestling
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Alternative music concerts
Validate how much for insurance. If one puts in enough renovations you should be able to get insurance.
New seating will be required these can be made from new materials such as hemp and with subsidies.
I am thinking that the alderman is looking for affordable housing. This can be affordable and some can be zero carbon with reused materials, also can have new materials such as hemp building materials from Bruderheim or Calgary.
In addition to hydrogen. I would recommend being open to using nuclear power. Nuclear power will be used in Alberta to power the new smart cities.
Best regards,
Grace, peace, and good fortune be multiplied to you and yours,
David.
Here is some information I discovered during research:
Written by Gregory N Reimer.
First About Ben Gardner Architects;
Despite being a real stand up guy, Ben Gardner is kind and super generous. I’ve had the privilege of meeting with him a number of times, to the point that twice now, he has insisted on paying the bill for our round table meetings held at The Cactus Club on Jasper Avenue. Thank you Ben. One of the reasons we continue to have meetings there is both the service and food are top notch.
Then there is the professionalism that Ben Gardner brings to the table. He likes to know who he is working with and takes an interest in you as as person and your business. Much of an interest that Ben and I have in common. I would suspect there is easily much more positive things to say about Ben Gardner And his business. To match any further curiosity you may wish to check out the projects his business has played a part: https://gardnerarch.ca/projects/
And did you know, that Ben has been contracted to design and build a bunch of apartment buildings? On the go, Housing for almost (5000) five thousand families. Hows that for drawing a few pictures? I think that’s called “conceptual drawings” that are followed by what is called “Pictorials”.
The latest energy options just reported, has to do with natural gas for large trucks, in fact Edmonton has has a station for a number of years already.
With all the areas that have been mentioned in respect to sports and events, along to costs related, businesses such as BBB Engineering And Design Works Engineering should be able to provide more light on the benefits in savingthecoliseum.ca
There also is interest on what we researched using “Targeted AI” Supported By The Goldfire Group, to find out what the new arrangement now the city has taken over The Citadel Theater. Please see below.
What are the current plans for the Edmonton Citadel Theatre?
The Edmonton Citadel Theatre is undergoing significant redevelopment and renovation plans, which have been in discussion for some time. Here’s a summary of the current plans:
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Lease Agreement and Renovation Costs: The City of Edmonton and the Citadel Theatre have reached a new lease agreement that will see the city take over responsibility for the building’s maintenance and capital renewal. This comes as the existing lease, signed nearly 50 years ago, is set to expire. The renovations are expected to cost over $56 million over the next decade, with maintenance costs adding up to more than $1 million annually.
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City’s Financial Role: The city will manage major repairs and upgrades, while the Citadel will continue its operations with a nominal rent of $1 per year. Additionally, a $2 fee will be added to all tickets to help cover costs, contributing a minimum of $100,000 annually.
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Provincial Support: The Alberta government is contributing $4 million as part of its Capital Plan to assist with the renewal project. This funding aims to address necessary upgrades such as replacing elevators, window glazing, and improving accessibility.
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Importance of the Theatre: The Citadel Theatre is an essential cultural hub in Edmonton, hosting a wide range of performances and attracting thousands of visitors each year. Recent years have seen increased attendance, further emphasizing the theatre’s role in the city’s arts and culture scene.
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The renovations aim to ensure that the Citadel remains a vital part of Edmonton’s cultural landscape, providing a high-quality performance space and contributing to the city’s vibrancy(
The Edmonton Citadel Theatre has several significant plans and developments underway as it approaches the renewal of its lease with the City of Edmonton, and as part of a broader initiative to update its facilities and enhance its offerings:
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Lease Renewal and Maintenance Responsibility: The Citadel Theatre’s lease with the City of Edmonton is up for renewal. The new lease proposes that the city assume responsibility for the building’s maintenance and renewal costs, estimated at $1.36 million annually. This would allow the Citadel to focus on producing art and performances. The theatre will continue covering its janitorial, insurance, security, utilities, and property tax costs, as well as improvements to its auditoriums.
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Funding for Renovations: The Alberta government has allocated $4 million as part of the Budget 2023 Capital Plan for the Citadel Theatre’s renewal project. This funding will support essential upgrades, including replacing elevators, window glazing, skylights, flooring, and mechanical systems, as well as renovating washrooms and increasing accessibility with stair-lifts.
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Performance and Artistic Programming: The Citadel Theatre continues to be a vibrant hub for performing arts, hosting a variety of productions. The 2024/25 season includes a range of performances, from adaptations of classic works like Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to new productions like a musical about Johnny Cash and June Carter.
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Community Engagement: As part of its ongoing commitment to the arts, the Citadel Theatre aims to enhance its role as a cultural and community hub in Edmonton. This includes maintaining partnerships with local artists and organizations and ensuring the theatre remains a destination for world-renowned productions.
These developments aim to ensure the Citadel Theatre remains a cornerstone of Edmonton’s cultural landscape, providing high-quality performance space and fostering the local arts community for years to come.
Responses to the Round Table Discussions can be added as related information is gathered.
One of the questions that need to be answered is: If the above was enacted to save the Citadel Theatre, why was not the same kind of initiative taken to save both the Edmonton Coliseum & The RAM?