Artists oppose downtown Gatineau arena

An artist's group Wednesday demonstrated their oppostion to a proposed multifunctional arena in the downtown Hull area of Gatineau.

The city has advocated a large new facility to replace the aging Guertin arena but opponents say downtown is the wrong location for a project on such a giant scale.

"We see it's going to suck a lot of the budget and space in downtown Hull and wipe out a lot of businesses," said Allison O'Connor, one of seven artists who posed as urban developers deliveringa powerpoint art installation Wednesday. "Is that worth it? Is that the place for it? Or is it better somewhere else?"

The artists unveiled their tongue-in-cheek vision of the impact a large arena would have on the downtown likening it to a giant box that dwarfs other buildings and small businesses in the area.

Gatineau Mayor Marc Bureau insists a new $80-million arena and concert space would revitalize the downtown.

Bureau says there's a large consensus that the corner of Montcalm and Wright streets is the best site for a new arena and concert facility. He plans to put the proposal before the city council in October as advocates continue to seek federal and provincial funding.

O'Connor and the other artists contend they want more residents to get involved in the debate over the location of a new multifunctional facility, particularly since a local developer has proposed a site far from the downtonw, near Highway 50 and the Rue St. Louis exit.