Yarmouth town council wants new arts centre downtown

Council discussed the matter at its committee-of-the-whole meeting of Jan. 26, where council passed a motion denying a request from the Yarmouth Arts Regional Council for a piece of land from the town.

“Th’YARC requested that an unused property known as the Grand Street extension be transferred to them for expansion and we denied the request,” said Mayor Pam Mood.

Th’YARC has said it wants a new arts centre built on its existing property. Town council’s position is that a better location for a new facility is in the downtown district.

Council plans to write a letter to Th’YARC stating the terms under which the town is willing to support a new arts centre.

“We have to do what’s best for the greater community ... consider what is best for the entire community,” the mayor said, “and what’s best for the entire community, we believe, is an arts and culture facility in the downtown core.”

The mayor cited the Ekistics development plan that was drawn up for the town years ago, which identified a new arts centre as a key component of downtown revitalization.

The issue of where to build a new arts centre was once the focus of much public discussion, but things for the most part have been quiet on this front for more than a half-dozen years.

“It was barely discussed in my first mandate,” said Mayor Mood, who was first elected in 2012. “There was a lot of discussion, heated discussion, when Coun. (Phil) Mooney was mayor.” (Mooney was Mood’s predecessor in the mayor’s chair, from 2008 to 2012.)

Council feels it’s time to get moving on a project that would be great for the town and for the broader region, the mayor said.

“This isn’t something that should tear a community apart,” she said. “This is something that should bring the community together. It’s going to be an amazing piece of architecture in the downtown. It’s going to create economic stimulus.”

The town hopes to hear back from Th’YARC by the end of March as to how they wish to proceed, she said.

Council discussed the matter at its committee-of-the-whole meeting of Jan. 26, where council passed a motion denying a request from the Yarmouth Arts Regional Council for a piece of land from the town.

“Th’YARC requested that an unused property known as the Grand Street extension be transferred to them for expansion and we denied the request,” said Mayor Pam Mood.

Th’YARC has said it wants a new arts centre built on its existing property. Town council’s position is that a better location for a new facility is in the downtown district.

Council plans to write a letter to Th’YARC stating the terms under which the town is willing to support a new arts centre.

“We have to do what’s best for the greater community ... consider what is best for the entire community,” the mayor said, “and what’s best for the entire community, we believe, is an arts and culture facility in the downtown core.”

The mayor cited the Ekistics development plan that was drawn up for the town years ago, which identified a new arts centre as a key component of downtown revitalization.

The issue of where to build a new arts centre was once the focus of much public discussion, but things for the most part have been quiet on this front for more than a half-dozen years.

“It was barely discussed in my first mandate,” said Mayor Mood, who was first elected in 2012. “There was a lot of discussion, heated discussion, when Coun. (Phil) Mooney was mayor.” (Mooney was Mood’s predecessor in the mayor’s chair, from 2008 to 2012.)

Council feels it’s time to get moving on a project that would be great for the town and for the broader region, the mayor said.

“This isn’t something that should tear a community apart,” she said. “This is something that should bring the community together. It’s going to be an amazing piece of architecture in the downtown. It’s going to create economic stimulus.”

The town hopes to hear back from Th’YARC by the end of March as to how they wish to proceed, she said.