Analyzing the Renaissance Square project, one must be troubled by decisions regarding the Performing Arts Center. Why is the community building another large venue for Broadway shows when the Auditorium Theater already has been upgraded to accommodate such shows?

Why is the small theater being downsized in quality and size and the much-needed, medium-size, 1500-seat theater is in limbo? Sure, it would be nice to have a fancy new 2800-seat theater, but with limited funds, priorities should be established based on venue needs, economic impact, and cost.

To me, it would make sense to eliminate the 2800-seat theater from Renaissance Square and replace it with the medium-size theater and a quality small theater. Retain the Auditorium Theater as the venue for Broadway shows but allocate several million dollars to enhance the facility inside and out. When and if economic conditions improve, the community can look down the road to building a brand new Broadway theater.

Building the medium-size theater instead of the large one at Renaissance Square would quickly accommodate Garth Fagan Dance, significantly lower costs, and allow for more design money for a world-class theater. In addition, a smaller theater would create less parking stress at Ren Square. The present plan for a 2800-seat venue would create severe parking problems that can only be solved by building a multi-million dollar parking garage.

Retaining and enhancing the Broadway theater at the Auditorium complex would also act as a catalyst for further development in the adjacent Arts neighborhood.

The Garth Fagan Dance group is a world-class asset that has been ignored when it comes to providing for a quality venue. The same can be said about opera, ballet, and the RPO. A recent study indicated that a medium-size theater would be utilized 313 days a year compared to only 170 days for the Broadway theater.

The Ren Square plan already has been significantly reduced in size and quality because of rising construction costs, and the start of construction is still well over a year away. Just watch the project proceed with significant cost overruns and a further deterioration in quality and size of the final product. This is the nature of any large public project.

It makes sense to build the medium-size theater in place of the large one at Renaissance Square, but in Rochester what makes sense rarely wins out in the end.