Beaverbrook Art Gallery granted right to extend on city land

Fredericton council approved a request from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery to allow its underground footing to creep onto city-owned land at its Monday night meeting but it wasn't without a dissenting voice.

The construction of a new wing at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery is now underway. The14,000-square-foot expansion willinclude a multipurpose theatre, artist studios andstreet-side caf.

But it also required the underground concrete footing to extend into city-owned property.Fredericton council authorized a licence agreement for the Beaverbrook Art Gallery to allow the extension.

Though that footing will be below ground, Coun. RandyDickinson said he thinks the council's decisionsets a bad precedent.

"What about the new hotel downtown, if they have to extend their foundation out onto the adjacent property," said Dickinson.

"What if those properties in the future need to dig down for some reason or want to put in underground parking or whatever, that their space has been eroded."

Dickinson saidthis issuecould have been avoided if the project had been delayed until next year.

Mayor Brad Woodside said he didn't think Dickinson's comments about the city's deal with the art gallerysetting a dangerous precedent were fair.

The mayor said large constructionprojects always run into problems that must be addressed.

"It very seldom goes to start to finish smoothly. There's always changes," said Woodside.

The mayor compared it withthe problems and delays that have plagued the York Arena.

"Look at where we are in that one right now. We're into something that we had no idea was happening until we found out. This is no different," said Woodside.

He saidthe project is a gift to Frederictonand he feels it will be well worth it.

"It's had its problems, yes. But every other large construction project that I've been aware of has had them as well. So we work our way through it as best we can," said Woodside.

Woodside said that the average person wouldn't even notice changes becausethe infringement on city property will happen underground.