Olde Town Hall – The Plan
Are you curious about what work needs to be done and what the building will be used for when the work is completed? Check out the information below to stay in the know!
Are you someone with skills and qualifications in construction? Are you a creator interested in using the space when it’s complete to promote arts and culture in our area? Reach out… we are so excited to hear your ideas for our wonderful community.
Our Olde Town Hall theatre was closed for large assembly use because of fire code requirements – and now it sits waiting to come to life again as a community gathering place. The potential for this historic theatre to add value once again to downtown Dundalk is endless. To support the downtown revitalization of Dundalk is to support the renovation and reopening of the Olde Town Hall. Together, we can accomplish something amazing for generations to come.
“What upgrades does the building need?”
The fire code requires either fire separations between the floors or a sprinkler system to ensure fire safety for the building and its visitors, as well as upgraded fire exits. The building requires some foundation and site drainage improvements, and masonry repair in some areas where bricks have worn with weather and age. The town hall requires some minor structural reinforcements. It is also our goal to be rehabilitating some historic features such as the tin ceiling and wood floors, while giving the spaces a fresh finish. When looking at code compliance, it’s important we assess how to maintain the historic character of the building, while ensuring the safety of all our visitors. We plan to upgrade the washrooms, addressing accessability and first floor meeting spaces to be well designed for multiple uses for our community for a range of purposes. Lastly, to help everyone use and enjoy the beautiful second floor theatre, we plan to add a lift/elevator for accessibility to the theatre.
“When will the renovations begin?”
We are working with our professionals to determine this. Our engineers are working on engineered drawings along with our architect to help guide us through our renovation project and permitting process. We have applied for charitable status, which is needed to issue tax receipts. Fundraising, grant applications, construction plans and more are each separate but interdependent parts of the project – and there has been progress on all fronts! We look forward to being able to apply for our permits and begin the construction process.
If you have any skilled trade experience you’d like to bring to our project, please reach out to : dundalkteamtownhall@gmail.com
Arts
The arts can bring a community together and give the opportunity for self-expression. From children to seniors – arts are for all ages to learn and grow together. We see a bright future for downtown Dundalk, offering theatre, cinema, music, concerts, galleries, and lessons at our historic town hall.
Culture
The Olde Town Hall represents the heritage of Dundalk and welcomes the new families to the area who bring diversity and unique experiences with them. This hub will be a place to learn from each other’s differences, celebrate each uniqueness, and realize our similarities. It is a place to encourage unity, inclusion, equality, and empathy for all.
Community
Across a diverse range of individual interests and experiences, every community member believes that Downtown Dundalk needs to be revitalized. The Olde Town Hall is the first to welcome you into the downtown. Opened as a thriving community hub, our lives will be enriched. Events in the meeting spaces and historic theatre will attract tourism downtown and support other businesses.
HOW TO FILL THE BUILDING
As well as the use of the versatile main-floor spaces, the key plan is to make the theatre more used than ever before. As well as plays and concerts, movies would again be shown at the town hall. There is a volunteer-run theatre called the Norgan in Palmerston, which operates in the black, by showing movies two weeks after they are released to theatres. This is a great model as it is theatre that has seen the least frequent use.The ground floor would also be used for a heritage/museum displays as well as art.
Movies
The Norgan Theatre is run by volunteers, including students earning their volunteer hours, along with a part-time staff person. The movie licence and programming is done through the owner of the Paramount theatre in Hanover, who has said that he is willing to have the same arrangement with Dundalk in the future. School and child care trips to the theatre, birthday rentals,
Music & Dance
There is a strong musical tradition and lots of talent in Dundalk and surrounding areas, and new residents are bringing gifts and experience with them. Youth have expressed interest in Battle of the Bands and Open Mic Nights.
Community Events
Affordable space is in high demand for small grassroots gatherings in our growing town and surrounding area.
Theatre
Local people are ready to start leading activities including theatre for young people and improv for teens. The Dundalk Little Theatre has been operating in makeshift quarters but the company would dearly love to be back on stage in the Olde Town Hall once again. The DLT has paid for upgrades to the theatre through the years. LP Stage Productions for youth also look forward to using the space
Photography, Videography
There would be room for classes and also a small gallery space for displaying local art and photography. It can also be the venue for photo and video shoots as well.
Arts & Crafts
Crafts and skills can be shared among residents in a hobby group. These will offer the opportunity for different age groups to pursue, share and pass on valued art forms from their own heritage.
Here’s more about the Norgan…
The Dundalk Olde Town Hall is now community-owned and
ready to continue its legacy of a landmark gathering place.
And the mayor’s last point about how the theatre
benefits the downtown is worth noting!!
#TakeIttotheTownHall movie night
Canada Day Long Weekend, 2019
“Without the Olde Town Hall, I don’t think Dundalk has its landmark.
We are outside tonight so that we can be inside someday – and thank you,
for helping us save the Town Hall..”
— Emma Gorman, Student – Team Town Hall
PROJECTED OPERATING BUDGET
for full community use of DUNDALK OLDE TOWN HALL
| NOTE: No commitment is being made to listed rental rates. | ||
| Uses based on expressions of interest for the spaces. All numbers are projections. | ||
| REVENUE | ||
| MONTHLY | ANNUAL | |
| THEATRE | ||
| Junior Musical Productions | ||
| 4 @ ($150/day for 8 days) | $4,800 | |
| Dundalk Little Theatre | ||
| 2 @ ($150/day for 8 days) | $2,400 | |
| EVENT RENTALS | ||
| Catered weddings (whole facility) 4 @ $1000 | $4,000 | |
| Events presented by Local Service Clubs & Charities | ||
| Based on charge of $1/ticket with minimum price to cover overhead | ||
| 4 @ ($1 / ticket, 100 attending) | $400 | |
| MAIN FLOOR | ||
| Pop-up rental space for local photo, video | ||
| 3 / month @ $50 | $150 | $1,800 |
| Rentals for Classes | ||
| 16 / week @ $50 | $800 | $9,600 |
| Theatre – Summer, March Break Camps | ||
| $150 / day, 5 weeks / year | $3,750 | |
| Concession during open hours | ||
| 10 customers @ $1.50, 3 days / wk. | $2,250 | |
| Donations for Gallery / Heritage Space | $600 | |
| Members, Sponsors and Fundraisers | $5,000 | |
| MOVIE THEATRE USE | ||
| Admission | $57,000 | |
| Concession | $36,000 | |
| Pre-Show Advertising | $3,500 | |
| Special Events – e.g. birthday parties @ $75 | $1,800 | |
| TOTAL REVENUE | $132,900 | |
| EXPENSES | ||
| MONTHLY | ANNUAL | |
| BUILDING | ||
| Hydro | $9,000 | |
| Water / Sewage | $2,000 | |
| Natural Gas | $5,000 | |
| Maintenance / Supplies | $3,000 | |
| Internet / Telephone | $1,500 | |
| Insurance | $10,000 | |
| Repairs | $4,500 | |
| Snow Removal | $500 | |
| Elevator Inspections | $6,000 | |
| Building Sub-Total | $41,500 | |
| OPERATIONS (based on model of Norgan Theatre) | ||
| Salary & Benefits | $15,000 | |
| Volunteer Appreciation | $500 | |
| Extra Services | $1,750 | |
| Freight | $2,100 | |
| Security | $240 | |
| Advertising and Promotion | $4,000 | |
| Website | $1,000 | |
| Repairs | $2,000 | |
| Concessions | $18,000 | |
| Booking Service Fees | $5,000 | |
| Film Rentals | $30,000 | |
| Operations Sub-Total | 79,590 | |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | 121,090 | |
| TOTAL REVENUE | $132,900 | |
| Transfer to Reserves | $11,810 |
Dundalk Olde Town Hall 