Salamanca Art Centre’s longest-serving tenant Rae Martin, who has been given notice to vacate her premises by the end of January, has had a major heart attack.
Mrs Martin, 86, collapsed in her shop on Monday and was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
It was believed her condition had stabilised.
Friends said the heart attack was contributed to by tension created by the eviction notice.
Mrs Martin has been a tenant for nearly 40 years with her business, Memory Lane Recycling, selling second-hand and antique clothes.
She and another long-time tenant The Lace Place, operated by Wendy Wilkinson since 1988, both received notices to vacate because it was considered they “did not meet Salamanca Arts Centre’s stated criteria and strategic priorities for arts-based tenancies”.
Independent candidate for the state seat of Denison, Andrew Wilkie, recently wrote to SAC chairman Ron Gifford and said both women were diligent, long-term tenants who operated businesses relevant to the centre.
Mr Wilkie said for fairness and in the public interest, the Arts Centre board should meet both women and look favorably at their tenancies.
Mr Gifford replied that both businesses were not arts based.
Mr Wilkie said “I don’t think these businesses have been treated fairly and I don’t think the board is acting in the public interest.
“Both businesses have become part of the fabric of Salamanca.”
