By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg council heard Wednesday that the Firehall Theatre – the heritage building that actually saw decades of service as Cobourg’s fire station and later became a theatre – needs some modernization.
Northumberland Players, which was granted use of the building almost 40 years ago, was represented by Victor Svenningsen in putting forward the argument for this need.
Svenningsen reminded council of the benefits the group have brought to the community since their first show in 1976 (Arsenic and Old Lace). These include $2-million a year generated at Cobourg’s Best Western at their dinner theatres and the $360,000 they raise that goes back into the community each year.
Changes needed include an elevator to all three floors, a lobby bigger than the five-foot-square current one, replacing the aging HVAC system, and accessible washrooms on two floors.
Lead architect Scott Weir described how the adjunct structure to the south of the building will address these needs, housing the elevator, increasing lobby space, increasing seating space by about 30% and providing a second floor “glass box” that will be illuminated and in itself serve as an attraction.
Svenningsen reiterated their commitment to preserving the heritage building, but the new addition will “give more focus to the downtown core.” Imagine standing in the second-storey box and looking down to the lake, he said. And imagine skating at the oval, looking north and seeing the box illuminated and active.
They have already sunk about $30,000 into the architectural reports, and expect to have to do some heavy fundraising. However, Svenningsen said, it’s the town’s building and they need the town’s permission to proceed.
In answer to Councillor Brian Darling’s question, he said it is expected that the addition will take away six parking spots.
Councillor Miriam Mutton’s motion to refer the presentation for a staff report to be brought back to council’s Dec. 18 meeting was subsequently passed.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
