Search for performing arts centre site: Grube Centre might be for sale if offer is ‘significant’

NEWS/ CITY — Never say never but it would take an awfully good offer to part School District 73 from the Henry Grube Centre for a performing arts centre site, says superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan.

The Grube Centre has been a popular option among the public as a site for the City’s proposed concert hall.

Sullivan told The Armchair Mayor News today discussions between the district and the City over the Grube Centre have been ongoing for three or four years and have occurred as recently as in the past month.

He said the school district once considered consolidating some of its operations on a property at the end of McGill Road and moving the Grube Centre there. “We put all the numbers together and it just didn’t work.”

Sullivan said the Grube site is smaller than it looks and has access issues. It would likely require below-grade parking, which brings the flood plain into play, he said.

Still, he said, moving the Grube Centre isn’t totally out of the question. “It’s just that it’s a very highly utilized central location,” he said. “We could move it if we had another location.”

Asked about the possibility of moving it into the Stuart Wood elementary building if the school is closed, he said, “We never thought about it that much.” Stuart Wood would need some expensive renovations and contains asbestos in the plaster, he said.

“If we’re going to continue to use the building, I think we would have to do some renovations.”

Whether or not Stuart Wood — which is owned by the City — comes into the picture as part of an agreement to open up Henry Grube for a performing arts centre, the District wouldn’t be easily persuaded to give up the latter, said Sullivan.

“They’d have to make us a significant offer.”