More than 10 years after its reputation outgrew its humble home at Chesterfield and Third Street, Presentation House Gallery is set to become a "landmark structure at the gateway to North Vancouver."
City of North Vancouver council voted 6-1 Monday night to rezone the foot of Lonsdale to include the photographic gallery's new home as well as a public plaza and revamped waterfront. The vote followed a public hearing that saw nearly two dozen residents and supporters of the arts, tourism and local business come speak in favour of the project.
The two-storey, 14-metre-high building will occupy 105 Carrie Cates Crt., currently home to a pay-parking lot.
The building, designed by architect John Patkau, is unlike any other in the Lower Mainland. While the main floor features mainly glass walls to open up sight lines at street level, the second floor is covered in a façade of steel that has been crumpled and unfolded, allowing it to reflect plenty of natural light during the dark months of the year.
"I can't think of a better place to have this, and I can't think of a better proposal, and I can't think of a more attractive proposal, and I can't think of one that would bring much more credit to the City of North Vancouver," said Coun. Craig Keating before casting his vote in favour of the project.
The city has put up $2.5 million of the total $15-million cost for the project and will remain the owner of the land. PHG director Reid Shier told council he has every confidence his fundraising team will be able to take care of their portion The building itself is roughly 2,400 square feet including 3,500 square feet of retail space, a café and bookstore, which will help offset the annual operating costs.
To the east of the building will be a public plaza that includes a water feature that can be programmed to have fountains, sit as a calm reflection pool or be drained entirely for public use.
The existing Cates shed will be removed and replaced with a new section of the Spirit Trail, which will continue along the waterfront to the Shipyards.
For Mayor Darrell Mussatto, the building's look was key to transforming the foot of Lonsdale.
"The more you look at it and the closer you get to it, the more you realize how great that building is, and I think it's very deserving of the most important space in City of North Vancouver," he said.
"We're removing a parking lot. Let's not forget, you can't get much worse public space than a parking lot at the bottom of Lonsdale. When Joni Mitchell said, way back when, 'Pave paradise and put up a parking lot,' now we get to say, 'We've made paradise. We've torn up a parking lot.'" Though he had some qualms with the design, Coun. Don Bell threw his support behind the proposal in hopes that the gallery would be used to showcase local photographers' work, not just photos from artists with world acclaim in their field. Prior to entering politics, Bell was a photographer and camera store owner in Lynn Valley.
Though she did not speak up in the debate, Coun. Pam Bookham cast a lone "nay" vote. At previous meetings on the future of the PHG, Bookham said she took issue with the gallery's proposed size, design, location, impact on views and failure to reflect the history of Lower Lonsdale.
The PGE Railway building had been sitting on the site but has since been moved to a temporary location on Alder Street. The city is planning to bring the 100-year-old building back and place it at Waterfront Park.
If the gallery's directors are successful in their fundraising, the target date for a ribbon cutting is 2017.
