A proposal to an affordable housing project on 15th Avenue next to Studio 2880 won support from a key player during a public hearing on Monday night.
Community Arts Council executive director Sean Farrell applauded the move and urged city council and staff to help find a more suitable location for the facility in the city's downtown and ideally before 2019.
"Studio 2880 and the lot is not ideal for the arts," Farrell told council. "The building, the facility is broken. We stand behind the city developing plans for appropriate residential settings."
Council subsequently voted unanimously in favour of rezoning land at 2880 and 2744-15th Ave. to allow for up to 35 homes along the 2700 and 2800 block of 15th Avenue, to be operated by the Elizabeth Fry Society.
The provincial government announced $1.6 million worth of funding for the project in November.
Planning and development general manager Ian Wells stressed Studio 2880 will remain untouched for now, but the long-term goal is to bring its amenities into the downtown.
