Re: “Space concerns force arts school to move,” April 28.
Recent media reporting of School District 61’s request that the Vancouver Island School of Art vacate its premises of 13 years by Aug. 31 omits reference to an important issue: The financial feasibility and timeline of upgrading the 1921 building.
In 2017, a small group of district employees toured the building and, from their 40-minute walk-around, costed the upgrade at $1.4 million (based on the construction being done in-house by their employees). VISA has learned that the district had plans to approach external contractors to undertake necessary renovations that would accommodate the Artemis program.
My experience as a property developer working in both the private and public sectors tells me there are several oversights in the district’s hasty estimate of renovation costs. A comprehensive upgrade/renovation proposal (with architectural and engineering input and including necessary building permits) would be necessary to generate a project budget for provincial-government approval.
The absence of details outlining the costs and the timeline necessary for upgrading the building for use by students and children is concerning. It is because of these considerations that VISA is asking for a short-term lease in its current location while all the necessary feasibility studies are completed and it searches for a permanent location.
During this time, the art school would continue to offer its many successful classes and workshops, while the district would undertake the planning necessary to adequately renovate and upgrade the building.
Xane St. Phillip
Victoria
