The public services committee this week heard that a new tenant or owner of the Monarch Theatre could be announced soon.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Work on issues involving two city facilities – the construction of a new pound facility and the future of the Monarch Theatre – is moving swiftly along, a city committee heard Monday.
Acting public services committee chair Brian Stauth told other members that the search for a new operating tenant or owner of the theatre on Second Street could be approved by administrative committee within three weeks.
Meanwhile, the construction of a new building for the contracted Alberta Pound and Rescue society to operate may open this summer, months ahead of schedule.
“It’s a large step forward for animal care and pound services in our community,” said Stauth. “The building looks great.”
The project, budgeted to cost $960,000, was approved in September 2021 after administrators told council the ventilation system at the existing city-owned location on S. Railway Street was inadequate.
That and other limitations, such as space, led to a new location being a recommended option.
In 2016, the city purchased a location it was leasing on S. Railway Street – a former vet clinic that had gone out of business – for about $400,000, with the understanding that $100,000 worth of upgrades were needed at that time.
Last year, the city’s utility and infrastructure division purchased and moved an unused hangar from the Medicine Hat Regional Airport across Gershaw Drive to a new foundation on city-owned land.
Councillors on the committee toured the site this month, with Coun. Alison Knodel saying Monday the building is “purpose built” for the operation.
The Monarch Theatre has been the subject of several requests for updates from councillors since a “request for proposals” process concluded in January, producing three parties with advanced plans for the 110-year-old theatre that plays a large role in “downtown vibrancy” strategy.
Stauth said a staff evaluation will appear at the next meeting of city’s top administrators. If approved staff would begin negotiating a lease or sales contract with the winner.
“We understand that there is a request to keep moving this forward,” Stauth told the committee.
The city bought the theatre in 2021 from the City Centre Development Agency that was in the process of disbanding.
