A plan put in place last year to turn the HudsonSA国际影视传媒檚 Bay warehouse building into an arts centre is moving forward, states a proponent, with a goal to have the building ready for a ribbon cutting July 1.

The building, which is more than half a century old, is in disuse and Matthew Grogono, owner of Old Town Glassworks and a member of the Yellowknife Artists Cooperative, said the building is SA国际影视传媒渏ust asking to be utilized.SA国际影视传媒�

He was first introduced to the building in 1994, when music teacher Earl McCauley brought up ideas of turning the building into an arts centre. The building presented an interesting challenge, one that is finally seeing completion on the horizon more than a quarter-century later.

Grogono recounts bringing in vocalist Renee Jones to the warehouse space in 1994. She asked if she could test out the acoustics, and proceeded to SA国际影视传媒渟ing Amazing Grace, which rattled the whole building.SA国际影视传媒� Since then, the warehouse has been something Grogono SA国际影视传媒渃ouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 get rid of.SA国际影视传媒�

Jones, now president of Nunasi Financial Services, remembers sharing the same excitement when Grogono brought her in to take a look at the building in 1994.

SA国际影视传媒淭he upper area would make a great ballet studio ... the main level could easily be converted into a darkroom. The area with the wooden staircase would make a gorgeous art gallery or gift shop.SA国际影视传媒�

The cooperative is on track to begin a feasibility study costing $21,000.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not a lot of money compared to the magnitude of this project SA国际影视传媒� rustling up a few thousand dollars for research and development is nothing compared to a multi-million dollar restorationSA国际影视传媒� Grogono said.

The money is coming from a number of sources. At the projectSA国际影视传媒檚 outset, the majority of the funding came from membership dues and fundraising events. Since then, the group has received $3,000 from the City of Yellowknife, and is hoping to receive another $20,000 to $30,000 from the Yellowknife Community FoundationSA国际影视传媒檚 new 25th anniversary fund.

Once the feasibility is assessed and a business plan is put in place, the cooperative plans to have the building paid off over the next five years, at an estimated budget of $5 million.

ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 been overwhelming support by the community, with many offers of donations.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been like feeding time at the fish pond, but because weSA国际影视传媒檙e still in the process of researching viability, we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to collect these gifts if I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 produce something viable.SA国际影视传媒�

It looks more and more like a dream that started in 1994 is beginning to become reality. Jones is just one of the people who are hoping for it.

SA国际影视传媒淭he building is a historic beauty and I really hope they can do it.SA国际影视传媒�