Special Bd. of Aldermen — 5/2/17 Page 4
Mr. Webb
We are taking the position that Court Street should be improved when that is possible for you to consider. We
think that a portion of the building, not all of it, can be restored for use by local theatre groups. We think in that
lower Court Street component of the building, we can have space for theatre, rehearsal space and various
support areas. Our suggestion is that this portion, lower Court Street, could essentially be operated as a co-op
by a set of community-based arts organizations. They could do it together or one group that’s a more
dominant user that we would look to help other art groups gain access. The city’s financial goal for Court
Street is to have those user groups pay a rent sufficient to cover basic operative costs. The idea is that the
users provide some of the services that are required in and for the building except for capital maintenance of
the structure.
Mr. Aquilina
From an architectural point of view, we would envision that the uses would be maintained, that the theatre,
itself, would be maintained. We would like to look for opportunities to make improvements to the lobby to
make it more accessible, more visible. You can’t really find the entrance when you are coming from Main
Street. We would see the lower level as being renovated to fit the needs of the particular users. There is a
studio in the basement that could be reopened for rehearsals. Not a lot of major changes, just making it a
healthy, comfortable environment. The capacity is about 250 seats in a tiered setting, kind of a more formal
theatre setting. We don’t have details about what the renovation scheme would be, but minimally 19,000
square feet. If you wanted to take on more of the facility, it might be more square footage. What is needed is
some exterior repairs to make it weathertight, and really the fundamental investment is a new heating and
ventilating system which is beyond its expected lifespan. Depending on what is required, the budget maybe
somewhere between $2.5 million and $5 million.
Mr. Webb
As part of this exercise, | got current operating budget information for Court Street and then made some
assumptions about new activity and more efficient operations based on those physical improvements. We
believe that we can make the building self-sustaining with some support from the user groups and with a
combination of monthly rentals and daily rentals on the part of those users. Let’s keep the cost for users down,
let’s keep the services to a minimum and ask for their help in physically operating and sustaining the building
after the renovations such that it can have a long life as an active supporting facilities for organizations now in
your community.
Director Cummings
What was just discussed over the last few slides is above and beyond the scope. It can about discussions in
collaboration with the working groups and comments that have come from the community where Duncan and
Scott felt the need to give some sort of direction for the Court Street Theatre despite it is not our preferred
development site, recognizing that it is an asset for the community and we have an obligation to be stewards of
that asset.
Mr. Aquilina
We really focused on the former Alec’s Shore Store on Main and Pearl as being a site with tremendous
opportunity. In terms of the criteria we were using to select the site, it does have access to parking and
incredible visibility on Main Street, and proximity to retail. It’s right there. We love that. It has an adequate
footprint. The Alec’s Shore Store is a 1960s building with a 10,000 square foot square footprint, a lot of
capacity for developing it in different ways. It has a building immediately behind it. | think it’s a 1910 building.
It’s a residential building that also has a lot of capacity to take on smaller spaces like offices, bathrooms,
staircases. It has a lot of legs.
