The Shakespeare by the Sea building has been given a second chance by Halifax Regional Council after a summer fire damaged it significantly.

Councillors refused to demolish the partially burned building used by the theatre company and instead ordered some short term renovations.

Shakespeare by the Sea had used it for storage, rehearsals, an office as well as a rainy day performance space. The Point Pleasant Park mainstay was damaged by fire in early June. The exterior and attic of the group's one-storey building suffered the most damage.

City staff recommended tearing it down and only offered the former park superintendent's cottage for an office.

The theatre company was not pleased with the news and Coun. Waye Mason stepped in with an idea to spend $125,000 to make the building somewhat usable.

"That gets the building back up to the point where they can occupy it as a type D office space," he said. "So they can use it for rehearsals, they can keep their props stored there, which is a significant part of what's in there. It’s a lot of props."

City staff were also asked to study the costs of a brand new multi-use building at Point Pleasant Park for an interpretative centre, new washrooms and a theatre.

Managing director of Shakespeare by the Sea, Elizabeth Murphy, said that’s not something they want to rush.

"I think ultimately, down the road, a new building is fabulous," she said. "But let's plan it, let's look at it, let's look at Shakespeare by the Sea having a capital campaign and partnering with the city and let's do something spectacular."

Construction of a new building could be five years away.