The building is very valuable. It can accommodate a large enough space to house an arts center. I think what s important is that it get studied. The problem, Sheldon says, is the arts are difficult to quantify. Instead, it has more to do with the quality of life in the community.
Arts are a valuable commodity for the community to have.
In the past month, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce suggested the idea to the council. While many on the council support the idea of a downtown arts center, some say the matter should wait until the city conducts a thorough review of facilities and city space needs. While the chamber recommends relocating the Recreation Department to the former middle school, recreation officials say it is a far more difficult matter to tackle. Recently, Recreation Superintendent Gary Bannon noted that he would need a significant amount of space in the former school to replace space used in the Butterfield Gym building. His department now uses the former school s gym as overflow, which means the city would need to construct another gym altogether at great cost.