(Rochester, N.Y.) – The Rochester Broadway Theatre League has selected Midtown Plaza as the site of its new performing arts center. But questions remain about whether the money can be raised to build the theater.
The $70 million theater proposed by developers David Christa and Bob Morgan would front Main Street and have a courtyard in back for public performances. It would sit on the old McCurdy’s site at the former shopping plaza, most of which will be torn down.
It would have been a lot cheaper to build a theater at Medley Centre – the other site in the running – but RBTL was attracted by Midtown’s ability to revitalize downtown Rochester.
“It is the right thing for our downtown and many people believe that it is the appropriate place for a performing arts center,” said RBTL Chairman Arnold Rothschild. “One of the things we decided is the impact for our downtown core would be so dramatic with this performing arts center that we should exhaust every possibility to try to build it downtown."
Rothschild said renovating RBTL’s current home, the Auditorium Centre, would cost as much or more than a new theater. Rothschild put the cost at $60 million to $100 million.
RBTL laid out a funding plan for the performing arts center. Half of the cost - $35 million - would be paid for by taxpayers, $19.5 million through the sale of new market tax credits, and $15.5 million through private fundraising.
“There was something like $60 million spent on new luxury suites at Buffalo Bills Stadium. There was $1.3 billion spent on the baseball stadiums in New York City. This is a small ask for a major downtown redevelopment,” Rothschild said
RBTL needs something besides money - local leaders to put their heart and soul and public funds behind the project. The last effort to build a theater at Main and Clinton collapsed when Mayor Robert Duffy and County Executive Maggie Brooks couldn’t agree.
The two leaders swear this time is different. They have been talking behind the scenes and both expressed strong support for a downtown theater.
“We're going to work hard. It's going to take team work from the city, county, the state the business community, the private sector,” said Duffy. “We're going to have work through some of the financial issues, but I'm confident we can do that together.”
“It can't be a county project, a city project, an RBTL project. It has to be a community project and we all have to step up and secure public funding, private funding and support RBTL as they try to build this,” said Brooks. “We had a misstep. Let's not make the same mistakes again.”
Rothschild expressed concern that the mayor might not be in office much longer. Duffy is running for lieutenant governor.
“Therefore, we have the major quarterback of the project, the major supporter on the city’s behalf, potentially leaving the role of mayor. We need to move this project along with rapidity,” said Rothschild, who added the Auditorium won’t be “serviceable” much longer.
Rothschild said RBTL will require assurances from the city and county regarding public support, financing, and some logistical issues by September 1.
“In the event we cannot hit the September 2010 deadline, we will be forced to look to building at a suburban location,” Rothschild said.
Duffy said he would help with the project whether he’s in Rochester or Albany.
“Either way I’m going to have an impact on this community and work hard. I love this place. It’s where my roots are and will always be,” the mayor said.
