Artists agree on Khyber fix

Halifax regional council will consider a proposal — endorsed by artists — to redevelop the Khyber Building into a key arts centre in the city.

Council will vote Tuesday on a staff recommendation to redevelop and modernize the historic building at 1588 Barrington St. for arts and cultural groups.

Coun. Dawn Sloane said the Halifax Regional Municipality, which owns the building, and the Khyber Arts Society have found some common ground.

"Basically, for us to admit that we can probably not program it as well as the Khyber, and on the other hand, the Khyber probably can't do the maintenance to the building or the repairs," she said.

The HRM and the artists who run programs at the Khyber were locked in a dispute. In 2005, a two-year-old facility management deal was revoked because rent and taxes weren't paid, the building was neglected and there were safety concerns, a staff report states.

Now council is being asked to endorse a three-year plan to renovate the building so it meets fire codes and has an elevator. The municipality would still own it, but would cede management to artists.

Construction would cost between $800,000 and $1 million, but the building would be a key "arts and culture incubator" for the city, staff said.

"The building can act as a springboard, a place to experiment and advance, where emerging and professional artists alike meet and collaborate," the report to council states.

Artists say they support the staff recommendation.

"I think we may have been a little too critical of what they were trying to do," said Garry Kennedy, with the Khyber Arts Society.