On what basis would people claim the 185 year old building "could be upgraded to accommodate relevant safety concern", being short of those motivated to take shots at the Conservative government (over anything...), there seems to be widespread sentiment that closing it is decades overdue.

Is it really that much of a draw? Even if you accept their optimistic 20,000 a year projection, that is only what the Cirque du soleil at the Krock draws in 5 days. Of the Hockey Hall attendance, how much of that will be drawn downtown because of the hall, vs how much went to the Hall because they were downtown anyway? The new location will bring in some tourists who wouldn't have gone to the old one, but I don't think having the new HHOF brings any tourists to Kingston who weren't coming anyway.

It would be different if it was branded the NHL hall, if it was to be spectacular , or if it had an entertainment component or otherwise lent itself to repeat visits. The newness will attract some number of locals, once. I don't think anyone spends $30 to take the family back again.

Only a small percentage of the Grand renovation(that ended about triple the original cost estimate) was funded through donation, and only Queen's Bader center was from donation, not the $12m the city is spending on Tett center . The hockey hall plan (if its met) is a far better deal for the city on a city funds:fundraising ratio.

Like what has happened with the hockey hall before, and more recently with the Marine museum, the $400k is likely only a start from the city. If it goes over budget, comes up short in fundraising, or doesn't meet its lofty projections when it starts paying high rent in 2 years it will be back asking for more. Once the city is in, it becomes virtually impossible for a future council to say no to more requests and throw away what has already been spent.

I don't buy the business plan partially based on what 150 people doing an online survey said, or what sales per sq foot of sports items the heavily trafficked S&R had. They are expecting far greater attendance then Bellevue House or the marine museum have.

The same pattern plays out every time, proponents present a plan that looks pretty good, the city agrees to it...then ends up on the hook for far more later when it costs more or generates less.

The business plan is with this weeks council agenda. If I thought it was a sure thing the plan would be met I might be alright with the 400k from the city. But the fundraising goal, 20,000 annual attendance, and retail sales projections seem extremely optimistic compared to its present 1500 attendance and what other museums do.

$1 movie machines have arrived in Kingston Metros.

That is sure a different take then Burliuk in today's Whig http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3525.... Granted hes never very critical but that one was particularly positive

The risk of E coli is higher with ground up meat compared to a whole piece that would be contaminated on the surface

There would be no one to operate it as a theater anyway. Cineplex wouldn't want it, they've been closing old style theaters too. There is a reason the theater chains have spent a fortune improving the experience

I always thought it would be nice to have discount second run theater like the Rainbow chain. Don't know when then last time they opened one was but they don't go in to premium real estate anyway. The occupancy cost of this building would exceed the gross revenue of the Screening room. Then take into account there will be 10 more modern screens in the Kingston market, and the whole industry declining year after year.

What independent/lesser theaters that are still left are probably dead within a few years anyway with the imminent change to digital only distribution requiring expensive new projectors. Including the kingston Drive in owner talking about that requirement may force him out of business soon.

Zip has expanded their vending machines as close as brockville, so I expect we'll see them in Metro or basics here anytime now. $1 a night rental will be pretty hard for the stores left to compete with. I've seen one of the machine manufacturers quoted as saying they expect discs will be around another 5 years. I suspect that will be determined by how fast isp speeds and pricing progress.

Kingston doesn't "allow" a tax rebate on vacant property, that rule is set by the ON Municipal Act. it used to be their was tax assessed on the property and separately on the commercial tenant too. Municipalities got stiffed so often on the tenant portion when they went out of business with no one to go after it was changed(by the province) to all be on the property that a tax lien could be attached to.

Also, its only 30% (to compensate for the former tenant portion) that can be rebated on space vacant at least 3 months, so still lots of incentive to get space occupied that is paying 2/3 of the tax bill while empty.