The owner of the Beaver Theatre along Water Street in Minden says he is looking for a development partner for the property and is open to project ideas.

Rahim Lakhani told the Time s earlier this week that plans to operate the theatre as a not-for-profit performance space and community hub have been set aside.

Lakhani purchased the property in the fall of 2016 and Lakhani made a presentation to Minden Hills council that fall and also held meetings with local stakeholder groups.

His vision was for the theatre to function through a not-for-profit community partnership involving Minden Hills township the community at large and what he was potentially calling the Minden Hills Theatre Not-for-Profit Society which would have been governed by a board of directors. Lakhani would have acted as landlord and his vision was the facility could be used to host movie festivals banquet and conference events live performances even college workshops and bingo nights.

Those plans were put on pause by summer of last year and earlier this week Lakhani told the paper that he is receptive to developing the property into any manner of project or business.

“I think I’m open to developing that property that’s my primary concern” he said.  “I’d be open to a conversation. I want to see a beautiful building on the river.”

Lakhani said he’s open to a project that would see the existing building demolished or one that would utilize it.

“When we purchased the building we did a thorough analysis with an engineering firm out of Peterborough” he said. “They basically gave us a report that said structurally it’s a viable building.”

Lakhani said his intention is to retain ownership of the property and to partner on development.

“Going forward if there’s any potential developer that would like to co-develop or develop it on their own I’m happy to share those reports.”

He is looking for ideas and someone to work with.

“If somebody says hey I have an idea and I want to execute please come forward let’s do this together” Lakhani said.

He can be reached at 905-914-7865 or rahim@thelakhanigroup.com

A tax arrears certificate filed by the Township of Minden Hills in May of 2015 shows the previous owner of the theatre was nearly $13000 in arrears at that time and land registry documents show Lakhani purchased the property in September of 2016 for just more than $70000.

Operating as a movie theatre for decades the Beaver Theatre sat unused for years before being reopened for a brief period by the previous owner in 2009.