Astor theatre interior. Photo Ed Halverson

The Astor Theatre is hoping to keep as cool as its programming with the installation of a new air conditioning system.

Executive Director Jean Robinson-Dexter says hotter summers in the past few years make it challenging to even be in the building without air conditioning.

Theatre management are hoping to take advantage of some federal funding to cover most of the cost but because they are tenants at the Town Hall Arts and Cultural Centre, they needed the Region of Queens permission to apply.

Councillors put the request on the agenda at Tuesday’s council meeting and passed the motion.

Robinson-Dexter is thankful for how quickly and decisively council moved to get behind the project.

“We were really gratified by the support of the council members and talking about the value of the Astor to the community,” said Robinson-Dexter. “One councillor said, you know the Astor has touched every one of us in some way, and I just thought that was very, very telling of how folks think about the Astor, and this building and what we’re able to offer here.”

The Astor board members don’t have a lot of time to put the grant application together as the window to apply closes February 28.

Mayor Darlene Norman was the only member of council to vote against giving permission for the Astor to apply for the federal grant.

She’s concerned by allowing their tenant to pursue a major renovation without oversight of the Region’s engineer something could be missed that could either harm the building or put the Region on the hook to provide more money if the funding runs out.

“My concern is the swiftness of the application. I spoke with Devour fest, Rhea from there. The Devour fest in Wolfville were very successful in those last round of applications and received millions of dollars,” said Norman. “[It] took them months and months to prepare their application. You have to be very careful that when you’re making this application that you’ve included all the costs.”

The federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings grant program offers funding for small and medium sized projects to retrofit existing community buildings ranging in total eligible cost from $100,000 to $3 million.

Robinson-Dexter says they’re fortunate that people with expertise installing HVAC systems in performance halls have offered to help them gather the technical information they need to complete the grant application.

The Astor Theatre board will determine how much funding to request once they know the scope of the project.

Robinson-Dexter says the Astor Theatre board don’t want to add anymore on to the plates of public works department and plan to deal with all aspects of the renovation themselves.

They also won’t be asking the municipality for any money and will address any funding shortfalls through other grants or by fundraising it themselves.

The board is now working to meet the Feb 28 grant application deadline.

Robinson-Dexter hopes that if they’re successful in their bid patrons will enjoy performances in air-conditioned comfort at the Astor Theatre by summer of 2024.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
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Global Empire call centre cubicles. Photo Ed Halverson

Region of Queens will spend $1.9 million to fix the ailing cooling system at the Liverpool Business Development Centre.

Better known locally as the call centre building, the municipally owned property on Harley Umphrey Drive is home to Global Empire call centre and Belliveau Veinotte Inc accountants.

Mayor Darlene Norman says as the landlord, the Region needs to provide a safe environment for the 100 plus people who go to work in the building every day.

“It’s a lot of money. It’s what happens when you’re a landlord. You know, what’s our other choice? Shut the building down, break our leases, hold our breath and hope that the thing doesn’t break again and then when it breaks again and then when it does, we have no solution for air conditioning?” said Norman. “It’s a lot of money to spend on a building. The building is not even worth that much money. However, it’s a business, it’s a building, it’s employing people, they’re good people in there working.”

A staff report indicates in its 20-year lifespan the HVAC unit has required numerous repairs, over and above what is considered normal maintenance.

The unit is approaching the end of its serviceable life and parts are becoming almost impossible to find.

DUMAC Energy Limited was hired in February to conduct a study of the Centre’s HVAC system which produced two recommendations: install a new single facility system estimated at $1.2 million or a four-quadrant system estimated at $1.5 million before structural upgrades and design work is considered.

Half the cost will come from a special operating reserve while the Region will need to borrow money to cover the other half.

Norman says that borrowing could mean a small increase to resident’s property tax bill in the coming years.

“I believe it could roughly be two to three cents, which is what we dropped the rate down by this year. But, interest rates, who knows what they’ll be at the point in time.”

Norman says staff will begin working to resolve the HVAC issues right away but because of worldwide supply-chain issues she doesn’t expect the new equipment will be in place this summer.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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