Alberta Aviation Museum's future

[W5]

It appears that the future of the AAM is in some jeopardy, as the city looks to sell tha hangar it is based in.

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local- ... epair-bill

Edmonton mulls sale of historic Hangar 14 to avoid costly repair bill

Edmonton city councillors will meet Monday to discuss the future of Hangar 14, home to the Alberta Aviation Museum, as a new report encourages the sale of the historic property.

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The 84,000-square-foot structure stands on the site of the former City Centre Airport and was used as a training facility during the Second World War.

But the 80-year-old building is showing its age. A city administration report says a minimum of $41 million worth of renovations are required within five years to avoid “critical asset failures.”

The report warns the renovation costs will likely rise well above the initial price tag and calls for the museum to find a new home.

“The rehabilitation of Hangar 14 presents substantial cost risks, which are compounded by the need to align the rehabilitation with both the historic designations and climate resilience policy,” the report reads.

“The more suitable option is to support the current operator in finding an alternate location and dispose of it.”

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The anticipated rise in costs is in part due to the “almost certain” discovery of hazardous materials in the building.

The report says that adding the cost of renovations to the city’s 2023-2026 budget cycle would require the deferral of rehabilitation for 19 other facilities, including police stations, arenas, leisure centres, and transit stations.

“City-led rehabilitation is not being considered at Hangar 14,” the report reads, suggesting selling the hangar could generate property tax for city coffers.

Hangar 14 was designated a historic resource by the province in 2000 and by the city in 2004.

It’s been home to the Alberta Aviation Museum for 31 years. The museum leases the facility from the city with the latest deal signed in 2018 slated to expire in 2028, though either party can end the lease with six months’ notice.

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Curator Ryan Lee told a council committee that the museum is a small institution that offers an affordable historical experience of Edmonton’s past.

“We’re a very, very frugal organization with a very low budget,” Lee said.

“We are not going to be able to operate without a big partnership with the city. If we don’t have a home, it’s going to be really bad.”

Lee also stressed the cost and difficulty of packing and removing many of the artifacts.

The museum estimates it drew 22,000 visitors last year including 1,200 school kids, though COVID-19 restrictions may have affected that number.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi called the museum “very significant” for Edmonton, adding that the city would need to collaborate to find workable financial options.

“Figuring out (its) viability is important.”

[PeterParker]

After all the mayhem around the costing of repair and refurbishment of the musuem in BC, I am sure no premier would be interested in dipping their toes into spending millions into a museum. Then again, Kenney is not particularly caring of what others think of him and is on his way out the door. Might be a good time to see if he will put in millions of taxpayer money into appeasing some of his wealthy sponsors before he leaves office...