This is a corrected version of this storyÂ
A long-awaited study on the feasibility of putting a performing arts center downtown was released this morning. The study presents two options.
The first is a new 2,850 seat venue for Rochester Broadway Theatre League at parcel 5, East Main Street, at Midtown. The cost of this option is approximately $75 million.
The second option combines a 300-seat proscenium theater, a 125-seat black-box theater and education spaces, with a 2,850-seat Broadway theater. The project would be located at Court Street and Exchange Boulevard, and the cost of the project would be about $168 million.
The study parrots much of what RBTL says in terms of the drawbacks of its current venue, including the lack of air conditioning and that the size and condition of the current venue likely limit the shows that RBTL can get.
But the study also says that the RBTL’s current facility could potentially be competition with its new venue, if they offer similar programming. It’s unlikely that the market could support both, the study says.
The City of Rochester is currently soliciting proposals for parcel 5 at Midtown. It has been reported that the Seneca Nation of Indians is possibility interested in owning and operating a casino/performing arts center on the site. But the proposal is controversial.
This article appears in Jul 13-19, 2016.
Put the Indian Casino in the High Falls district, not downtown.
If this has ever been a good idea the smart, private money would have made it happen long before now.
More RBTL sob story.
There are plenty of things that provide value to citizens that don’t make enough financial sense for private money to fund them. Should we just shut down the whole public library system because if it was a “good idea” someone else would open libraries with their own money?
Rochester has a decent arts scene and should absolutely be looking to support this project just like cities all across the country do.
Ben_
Not saying that but this is the 3rd, 4th study about this. Was it 1 or 2 “plans” for a Midtown arts center that died. Oh wait, we’ll use the abandoned mall, (that worked out so well).
Years of this and I think the vast majority of locals don’t care about it. Time for the RBTL to their own money to reno the aud and move on.
You’re not wrong, but I do think downtown and the local development scene in general is in a better spot now than they were in the past, hopefully someone actually comes through this time.