The City of Rochester is asking the state for $270,000 to study the possibility of building a new performing arts center downtown. Mayor Lovely Warren says that the city has applied for funding through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council. The city would contribute $30,000 toward the study.
The study would look at the economic impact of a new performing arts center, best locations, how the center would fit with the rest of Rochester’s arts scene, what kind of subsidy would be required, and other factors, Warren says.
If funded, the feasibility study would take place right away, she says. The city has also formed an exploratory committee to look at the possibility of a new performing arts center, she says.
Warren has consistently advocated for an arts center downtown, and Rochester Broadway Theatre League would be the likely candidate to program it. RBTL owns and operates the Auditorium Theatre on East Main Street, but that facility is no longer suitable, say RBTL officials. The subpar performance space keeps Rochester from getting top-tier shows, they say.
RBTL had looked at the Medley Centre project in Irondequoit as a potential location for a new theater. But that project is mired in financial, political, and legal muck; it seems unlikely that it will ever get off the ground.
The Finger Lakes council is one of 10 regional councils created by Governor Andrew Cuomo to compete for state funding based on long term regional priorities. Up to $750 million will be available in total this year, according to a state website.
Applications for state funding are being accepted until June. Finger Lakes council members will prioritize the applications, and then send the whole package on to the state, which makes the awards.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2014.
Could someone explain exactly what type of top-tier shows can’t be done? Didn’t War Horse, Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Wicked, etc all play here? WHICH SHOWS have we missed out on?
Didn’t the previous mayor conclude that the city was in no position to subsidize a performing arts center?
Isn’t there something of a higher priority that we can use the money for? I’m not sure Mayor Lovely Warren is asking the right questions here. I thought she wanted to help poorer neighborhoods now and in the future. This request seems like caving to Maggie Brooks and the pro construction interests. It’s worrisome.
The problem with the Auditorium Theater is that rich folks from the Suburbs went to a beautiful theater in Toronto with some friends and they feel inadequate when they compare our theater to the one in a major city that actually supports the arts with profits from said art. Those Rich folks from the suburbs could care less about the poverty in the city or the sad state of the schools and what have you. They are rich and only care about themselves. We here in the city should shut them out of the process of determining our course since it is so blatantly self serving. The Mayor fails to learn from the lessons of her predecessors and we will fail right along with her as she panders to the wealthy from the suburbs. If we build the theater do we have any assurances from the RBTL of its success? I say no assurances no theater. Commitments from promoters and the RBTL to be responsible for its costs would convince me that a theater might have a chance at success. We don’t need another HIgh Falls/Fast Ferry Pipe dream to fade into another debt disaster as we inch closer to Detroit.
Unless it could be built in a #!$@! parking lot, a new downtown theater would required demolishing a bunch of existing buildings. I’d much rather see adaptive reuse that boosts housing and ground-level retail. If we want to spend money on a theater let’s spruce up the Auditorium. Honestly, if I want cutting-edge theater I’m headed to NYC or Toronto anyway.
does anyone think or look at actual facts before posting? Maybe we just spew whatever bias we apply to any similar situation. I don’t know if a new downtown theater is a good idea or bad idea from a financial perspective. However, the first step would be to do some real analysis. If it costs the city $30K to do a feasibility study, that is a pretty cost effective first step.
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Jim Mayer: What are you talking about? Nothing would need to be demolished to build a theater, I know we have short memories, but there used to be a building called Midtown Plaza. It was torn down and there are multiple, large, unused spaces. Windstream is in one space, the D&C is building in a new HQ another of the spaces, the former tower is being converted (as we speak) to commercial/residential mix. Seems like a nice little hub of development with open space for more.
Jimmy65: You are really going to go with the rich vs poor argument? Especially, the “all suburbanites are rich, mean, and uncaring” argument. If you really care about helping the concentrated poverty problems in Rochester, you may want to think more broadly about economic development and opportunity. You finish with the argument that you would need assurances that it would be a success. Well, read the article…isn’t a study the first step in developing a business plan. Has anyone suggested that RBTL wouldn’t be willing to commit financially? Oh right, they are the evil suburban rich, we should just assume they will screw the urban poor for their benefit.
Mike Burton: I agree there may be higher priorities for large scale projects. However, unless we do the analysis, that cannot be determined. If we are only talking about a small investment from the city (and the rest from FL Development Council), a study is probably worth it. It is hard to develop a priority list unless you analyze the options. Conditions in Midtown were much different for prior mayors. The midtown area is seeing a revitalization. I would think it is at least worth considering the options to make sure we continue the positive progress.
Again, I think it is too early to be pro/anti theater. There is no harm is a study especially if it comes with minimal financial impact to the city.
I agree with Jim Mayer. “…adaptive reuse that boosts housing and ground-level retail.” YES!!! Don’t even study it. Just do it. Make it happen. Forget the downtown theater.
$300,000 to just look into whether or not to build a performing arts center? Isn’t this absurd? Maybe we should first do a smaller study to determine if the bigger study is needed.
I do agree that adaptive reuse is a great approach for new housing and ground level retail. What I have a problem with are statements like “Unless it could be built in a #!$@! parking lot, a new downtown theater would required demolishing a bunch of existing buildings.” Clearly fired up by the idea of adaptive reuse but just as clearly lacking in any basis in fact. So, do posters not pay attention,have a short memories, or just blindly push an opinion without regard to actual facts? It seems nowadays people are too willing to draw an ideological line in the sand which is never crossed regardless of facts.
Sorry, it is just a big pet peeve of mine when people form strong opinions with no rational thought or deference for the facts. I am happy for us to disagree and come to different conclusions with the same facts, just don’t pretend they don’t exist. In this case, two very important facts where disregarded, 1)The big vacant parcels of property where midtown plaza used to be and 2) Mayor Warrens public suggestion that these vacant parcels would be the potential spot for a downtown theater. How did we come to the conclusion that this would demolish current buildings and forgo opportunity for adaptive reuse?
I’m very skeptical of these studies. My suspicion is that this “study” would be biased in favor of building something. Anything! The problems begin AFTER the thing gets built.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that this request is prudent. Not only would such a study be biased, it would be a tremendous waste of time and money. Lovely and Maggie are seeking validation. They already know the outcome. Construction workers benefit now, but taxpayers will be on the hook later. This is all just a clever way to start building the performing arts center.
I may be biased, but so is everyone else. At least I’m putting the city first and I’m not corrupt. I don’t support a downtown theater and performing arts center. I especially don’t like it
when lies, deception, and game playing are used to build one.
Mike B: OK, I get being skeptical. You are most likely right that the recommendation of the study will be predetermined and biased. However, it would still be a presentation of facts (albeit biased ones), that we could all decide to agree with or not and have an open debate. We can’t just give up and assume all public works are corrupt. We cant just make decisions based on someones personal opinion that are not based on facts (yours, mine, or Lovely’s).
I believe that you are a reasonable person, are not corrupt, and would be open to a rational debate. But you can’t say you are putting the city first. Without something more concrete than personal opinion, we can’t know who is right. You are right, we are all biased! which is even more reason to try to gather data and make a informed decision.