The proposed $5 million redevelopment of the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre is raising some controversy in Greater Sudbury.
Bell Park users groups are going to lose out financially if the reconstructed amphitheatre does not have a covering for the public, Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan said recently.
Other users in the park, such as major music festivals, are complaining the proposed seating capacity is not enough to make their festivals financially viable.
The amphitheatre, originally constructed in 1967, was one of four approved federal infrastructure spending projects in 2009. All three levels of government shared in the costs.
It has not been used as a live performance venue for many years, Tony Parmar, Greater Sudbury manager of quality, administration and financial services, said in his report to council Nov. 25, 2009.
“The decline or absence of usage can, in large part, be attributed to the many functional inadequacies, including poor seating conditions, lack of front-of-house facilities, difficult loading conditions, lack of backstage facilities, lack of equipment, size of stage and the general derelict appearance of the facility,” he wrote.
According to Paul Loewenberg, NLFB artistic director, groups such as Northern Lights Festival Boreal (NLFB), which traditionally use the venue, have placed its main stage in the parking lot beside Paris Street and avoided the use of the amphitheatre since 2004.
Plans for the reconstruction of the amphitheatre call for a 5,500 square foot building, a completely covered 1,600 square foot stage and a seating capacity for 1,750. Seating is comprised of 500 hard seats and 1,250 soft or grass seats, however none of these seats will be covered by the canopy.
But Callaghan, who is honorary chair of Sudbury Summerfest, said he has “been pushing for a canopy over the (entire) amphitheatre. I think it is silly to build it without a canopy.
“I know there are groups caught in the rain waiting for people to show up. A canopy can help sell advance tickets.”
The report submitted to council did mention that a roof canopy over the audience could be considered at a later date at an extra estimated cost of $2.4 million. The reason it was not included was that the former structure never had a canopy over the audience.
Chris Gore, Greater Sudbury manager of volunteerism and community development, said there has been disagreement by users over whether or not a canopy is necessary and there are budget limitations to consider.
“The new building has been designed to accommodate a roof canopy (over the audience) now, or at a later date.”
“I will fight for a canopy right away,” Callaghan said. He added that, in his experience on city council, if additional project expenses are left for a later date, then it has a good chance of being dropped.
“Other spending priorities come up.”
Also additional costs can arise as engineering standards change or the cost of materials rise, he said.
“If we are to spend one third of the $5 million (amphitheatre reconstruction) cost, then let us make sure we do it right.”
Loewenberg disagreed with the additional canopy.
“Our festival is a multi-stage, multi-day event that is outdoor in nature.” He said the new design does have enough canopy over the stage to protect the musicians and technicians.
“We left the amphitheatre in 2004 for the parking lot because we could not protect the stage area,” he said.
Northern Lights Festival Boreal is one of many events that must relocate from Bell Park as the amphitheatre is redeveloped. Word on where the festival will be held has not been given yet. Photo by Marg Seregelyi.
“We need the extra (hard) seating,” Callaghan said.
The report by Parmar said an additional 400 seats could be installed at a cost of $350,000.
Callaghan said that could be funded by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
Loewenberg said his priority is more seating capacity rather than a canopy.
But he said in the new park design, the amphitheatre is placed in such a a way that it limits seating capacity whether on the grass or in hard seating.
“In the parking lot we were able to accommodate 3,500, including those in the beer tent,” Loewenberg noted.
“This design means there is seating capacity for only 1,750. That means we would have to charge $100 for a weekend pass instead of $60 for the same quality of music. We and the other major festivals in Bell Park cannot grow.”
Vic Thereault, music director for Summerfest, agreed the seating capacity was too limited.
But Gore cited a report by Novita Techne Limited, who prepared a draft business plan for city council Oct. 14, 2009.
More than 80 groups were consulted — from major music festival users to smaller groups, including the Greek Festival, Blueberry Festival, Theatre Cambrian, Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, La nuit sur l étang, Thorneloe Theatre Arts, Le Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Earthdancers, Salon du Livre, Bell Park Gazebo Concert Series, Carrefour Francophone, and Irish Heritage Club of Sudbury.
“The report found 60 per cent of users require fewer than 1,750 seats. Most are comfortable with events seating between 500 and 1,000,” Gore noted.
Users contacted by the consultants also wanted the redesigned amphitheatre to fit in with the natural contours of the Bell Park, Gore wrote in his report to city council dated Oct. 14.
“Bell Park is a community open space which must be respected, and the amphitheatre needs to fit within that space, without detracting from the balance of the park.”
Reports on both the relocation of users and the the amphitheatre redesign will be presented to city council in March, Gore mentioned.
