Once the tenant of Athabasca’s brick school, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), moves into its new facility early next year, the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, which manages the old school, will lose out on $35,000 per year in rent.
“There will be a loss in rental revenue, and at present we are unsure of what the exact plans will be for the brick school,” said Athabasca County councillor Christine Bilsky, who sits on the Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society board.
“That is something the town and county (via the multiplex society) will have to decide,” she added. “It is a beautiful building with a lot of history, and I’m confident we will work together to develop a suitable plan for it in the coming months.”
On the flip side, FCSS will be saving that same amount year over year while only having to pay utilities in its new facility atop the east hill that will grant it at least a third more space, according to Athabasca County director of corporate services Brian Pysyk.
The new facility is on budget at $1.5 million for the county and will be 6,091 square feet once completed (compared to the approximately 3,700-square-foot brick school), according to Pysyk.
The framing was completed in recent weeks; electrical and plumbing is underway, and insulation is being installed this week, said Pysyk.
The multiplex society operates the brick school building, but the town and county share 50/50 ownership of the school; the new facility will be fully county-owned.
“It’s up for debate on what the board wants to do and see in that building. As of right now, no decisions have been made,” said Athabasca Regional Multiplex assistant manager Dustin Pysyk.
“Everybody knows that FCSS will be gone, so sooner rather than later they will have to decide on what the next steps are,” he said.
The school’s heritage status is expected to factor into the decision-making.
“… County council understands the importance and significance of protecting a heritage site like the old brick school. The multiplex society is the managing partner of the site, but the municipalities will decide what its next best use will be,” said Athabasca County councillor Kevin Haines, who also sits on the Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society board.
Haines indicated past conversations have included the possibility of turning the brick school into a museum or library, while “other conversations have discussed the possibility of rented office space.”
“The complex will continue to fill a new role in one capacity or another, and we as county council are prepared to see it fill a new role,” said Haines.
Haines said there has been “significant discussion about creating an arts and culture advisory board and having that aspect away from the current multiplex board, which is more recreation-oriented in nature.”
If that were done, suggested Haines, the brick school building would fall under the prospective arts and culture advisory board’s purview.
“Ultimately, that will be a decision of a future joint council,” said Haines.
