Special Bd. of Aldermen — 5/2/17 Page 14
that are emerging in our local community are getting the support that they need. While not the ideal, | was
definitely appreciative of the work that was put into looking at that building even though it is a little bit of a
quagmire.
The real question | have is looking at the Alec’s building and not necessarily turning the whole thing into a
theatre, but turning it into that holistic building that has multiple support structures to it, I’m in favor of that. But
earlier in the review process, we were talking about creating an arts district based on a smaller scale
investment, trying to cultivate the local artists in the downtown population with things like festivals. It seemed
like when Alec’s came onto the market, we revamped that plan entirely. | don’t think Alec’s is in the performing
arts district that was identified. If | remember, it was closer to the river over by where the river walk is,
Peddler’s Daughter. How would this create that arts district or would it move it?
President McCarthy
The proposal for the district went from the Elm Street Junior High to Court Street when it was in the original
recommendation.
Alderman Lopez
As | remember, the Elm Street Junior High was actually considered a pseudopod. It was specifically stated in
at least one meeting that it shouldn't try to extend all the way. It should be more concentrated.
Director Cummings
We don’t technically have an “arts district.” One of the ways we could look to address that issue is we could
look to do a zoning overlay and articulate that we want to encourage performing arts and other types of artists
within a certain land use area within the city. Ultimately in the downtown area, you’re going to need some
critical assets to achieve that goal. The example that was given is you could use a performing arts center as
one of the couple of anchors. | would suggest that we have a budgeting arts district coming together from the
river radiating out, whether that’s at Riverwalk or Court Street Theatre. We definitely have a strong component
of different artists and artist type uses.
One of the elements that | am hoping to take away from this evening is a clear direction that there is an
ambition by this body for me to put togheter a proposal that can be presented to you that will ultimately be a
bonding request of $15.5 million, understanding that it would have to be accommodated by the city. You then
during that discussion can do what | would very much expect you to do as you are obligated to, which is to
make sure that this request kept a stable residential tax rate within your current financial picture. You would
want to make sure that this capital request, whatever dollar figure it may be, can be accommodated and you
can then compare it accurately against the other needs that may be coming before you. That is ultimately what
| would think would be a good next step. To be able to do that, | want to make sure that this body has an
understanding that debt service, in particular, would need to be covered by the city.
Alderman O’Brien
| see we’re going to acquire the 1910 building, the first two floors will be used for the theatre. What about the
additional two? Would that be office space and an income generator to this particular project? Also, the first
floor street level is going to include a restaurant and retail area. Would that not be an economic generator to
this particular project? If that is the case, | did not see any numbers for the potential. | did not see how much
we would be getting per square foot of retail space, but | would like to know that number so we can forecast
that as we deal with the bond issue.
