Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy. FILE PHOTO
RBTL at Midtown? It's a possibility.
In a phone interview this afternoon, Mayor Bob Duffy said that if it's not economically feasible to renovate the Auditorium Theater, he'd like RBTL to consider Midtown as a possible new home, specifically, the former McCurdy's site.
RBTL was going to be the primary tenant of Ren Square's theater. Since Ren Square's collapse, RBTL officials have been looking to the suburbs for a new site. Duffy has been pushing for RBTL to stay downtown and to renovate the Aud to meet the group's needs.
The city is paying for a study to determine the cost of renovating the Aud. Those numbers should be ready by the end of the month, Duffy says. If renovations are cost-prohibitive, Duffy says he'd like RBTL to consider Midtown as an alternative.
In an interview earlier today, before this news broke, RBTL board chair Arnie Rothschild said that the site selection committee plans to move to the next step in early December. It wants any proposals from the city by the end of this month.
The McCurdy's site was one of the first sites that Rothschild floated, back in 1994, as a potential location for a new theater, he said.
"All of us have believed that downtown was the perfect site," Rothschild said.
RBTL officials have a laundry list of issues with the Auditorium Theatre - everything from cramped dressing rooms to lack of lobby space. During one production, half of the pit band performed from the basement. RBTL wants a new, 3,000-seat theater to address those issues, and to address capacity. By having more seats, they say, they have a better shot at landing large productions sooner.
The organization's theater site selection committee has been listening to proposals by various developers and communities. The proposals generally call for a new theater that would be built next to amenities and expressways, on shovel-ready sites with ample parking.
Developers have been saying that a new theater will cost somewhere in the $40 million to $50 million range. There are a number of potential ways for the organization to raise the money, Rothschild says. They include naming rights and the sale of tax credits.
"I would tell you that there is significant developer participation in each of the projects," Rothschild said.
But he also says that the fact that they're looking in the suburbs is not a "stalking horse" for a city site.
RBTL would want to operate the new performing arts center as well as the Aud, the latter of which could be used for smaller acts and events. Rothschild says the Aud would make "a perfect 1,500-seat theater."
Comments for "DEVELOPMENT: Duffy wants RBTL to consider Midtown " (8)
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rochester99 said on Nov. 11, 2009 at 6:00pm
I believe a “community compromise” has been reached! The regional center for arts and culture will remain in the city.
The city gives RBTL sufficient land at the Midtown site for a Large Performing Arts Center and would supports efforts for RBTL to obtain public/private sector financing for this arts center. During this process, the Auditorium will continue to show Broadway shows and further capital enhancements will be made at the center to better position it as a quality venue for the arts. And if RBTL is successful in getting sufficient funds for the construction of a new 3,000 seat center at the Midtown site, the Auditorium would revert to a quality…smaller theater.
Such a compromise will be a win-win for the City and RBTL. RBTL would find it much easier to fund a City theater than a suburban theater. Local politicians will not support public funds to kill the City’s only remaining Industry…arts/culture! Thus any efforts to move out to the suburbs must stop ASAP….as soon as the city agrees to donate the site to RBTL. To me, this would be an acceptable compromise!
Arnie Rothschild….what do you think?
Harry Davis said on Nov. 11, 2009 at 6:54pm
This sounds like a break through development! While I still have big problems with the new Midtown project, as Dana Miller said recently during the city council campaign at Community Place when he was asked the question, "Midtown has no plans for middle or lower income." Because of this fact, Rochester schools will again be subjugated to gentrification of the neighborhood and all that implies for the city school district. But making downtown a center for the arts is something we can all support if large box theatres are not the only game in town.
Michael Arve summarized the possibility of theatre in Rochester recently:
ARTS IN DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER by Michael H. Arve
http://www.harry2009.com/node/263
Arve said;
"Before the demolition of Midtown Plaza became a plan, I had often written articles in the D& C Edit Page about the idea of creating an “off-Broadway” style theatre center in Midtown Plaza. That would have accomplished several things among getting theatre lovers used to coming downtown. It would have also spawned more restaurants to open, to accommodate those patrons who would like to go to dinner before a show."
"Theatre “districts” grow and thrive when there is more than one theatre. There are many “niche” theatres that cater to a specific demographic but they don’t have a huge audience base, but a loyal one. Put several of those together and you have a large number of people who would be coming downtown for theatre and the like; who would support and patronize the smaller ancillary business that would grow up around those theatres â€" restaurants, specialty boutiques, comedy clubs etc. etc."
Again, we still need to plan a "vision" for downtown,as a whole, and how to work towards that vision.
Download The Rochester Regional Community Center (RRCDC) 2008 Vision Plan
http://www.harry2009.com/node/446
Fred said on Nov. 12, 2009 at 11:23am
Fantastic Mayor! So so so glad to see SOMETHING moving forward for midtown Rochester after the terrible crash and burn of the Ren Square project this summer. Without pointing any fingers for that (which is not constructive), I just can't tell you how disappointed I was when that happened. I have a deep love of the city and want to see our downtown revived to the status it once had. I think this is a seriously good move to get the momentum moving again for downtown.
arnie rothschild said on Nov. 12, 2009 at 7:20pm
Roc99, I waited until I received the letter from the Mayor to comment on your posting. I was pleased that he has interest in looking at other options should the Aud renovation be too expensive. This afternoon, within a half hour of the receipt of his letter, Frank Hagelberg, our site selection chair reached out to the City to invite them to make a proposal.
As you have pointed out many times, financing is a critical issue in how this comes together. First and foremost, we need to figure out the costs of building on the site. The previous figures, which I have shared with the readers of City have been in the 40-50 million range so far. I look forward to our figuring out the cost of this site development and agree with the Mayor that many benefits of the site exist.
I also think, that since Assemblyman Morelle has indicated that no money from the State would be available for a site outside of downtown, how much money may be available if we select the Midtown site?
All that said...we at RBTL were appreciative of the Mayor's call to us and follow up by letter. Hopefully, we will all be able to meet and tie down the "details" of the proposal soon! arnie
Donna Miller said on Nov. 13, 2009 at 9:56am
What happened to PAETEC? We go back and forth in this city with no real development. I have no formal education, but from were I sit, the Mayor emptied out Midtown, got no committment from PAETEC, and now wants RBTL after the mess with Rensquare to consider downtown? It seems that the suburbs have submitted proposals and are moving forward. I doubt if RBTL would consider Duffy's late, underdeveloped deal without a huge financial committment, which the CIty does not have. The reality is to cut your losses. Duffy is getting close to beating Johnson's record of "Failed Businessman of the Year"
MAT said on Nov. 14, 2009 at 11:40am
Donna, PAETEC has said since Day One that they will not make a formal commitment until the site is cleared and funding is fully committed to site preparation (i.e., new streets, sidewalks, lighting, park, etc.). The asbestos remediation is well underway and demolition will begin in the Spring. Yes, the project is a bit behind schedule, but things are on track for PAETEC to break ground on their new headquarters in early 2011. It doesn't hurt that PAETEC stock has bounced back and the company is beating Street estimates. Beyond that, the City has selected a prominent local developer to renovate the Midtown Tower into a mixed use building with 210 housing units as well as retail and commercial space. That project will get underway in 2010. Putting the new RBTL Broadway Theater at the McCurdy site (corner of Main & Euclid) makes perfect sense and, in fact, has been planned for in the past. There is a huge parking garage underneath and a truck tunnel capable of handling the most massive of performances. There are/will be numerous restaurants and bars within walking distance for pre and post performance entertainment as well as major hotels for visitors and performers. No suburban site can compete with this site. This will provide a major public cultural destination on the Midtown site solidifying it as a key regional focal point once again. Besides, name one major metropolitan area that has their main performing arts theater amidst Anytown USA suburban sprawl? Doing so would be the height of foolishness akin to, but even more offensive than, building Frontier Field in the 'burbs. They tried that in the mid-90s, but in the end, logic prevailed. Now to find the $$$ to make it happen...
say it ain't so said on Nov. 15, 2009 at 9:11am
A few facts might be in order:
First, a theater is not financially viable on its own. It requires massive government subsidies to be built, no less to be operated. So if Morelle is going to extort a City site in exchange for government funds, much like Bill Johnson did over the site for the soccer stadium, it will go to the City since the suburbs cannot deliver over Morelle's objections.
Second, beware locating a facility somewhere on the if-come that NYS will come up with the money. Morelle cannot deliver what he doesn't have. Has anyone noticed the State is bankrupt? And when is the last time Morelle delivered ANYTHING for the City of Rochester or Monroe County, of any size no less tens of millions? Hasn't happened in the past, not likely to happen in the future. Even an appearance by the Governor is no longer convincing. I recall a visit by Spitzer to Midtown to announce PaeTec...but the money never materialized.
Third, let's face an ugly reality which is that the local economy is shrinking fast and the "heavy hitter" donors of yesteryear are not here today. The Theater League has a lot of well meaning people, but they have no money.
Conclusion? Like everything else in this town, there will be a lot of announcements but they will all have caveats (Big print: "PaeTec to Build Headquarters at Midtown Site" Small print: "no firm commitments made, and btw PaeTec's stock price is tanking...and we are no longer calling it the PaeTec project, its now just the Midtown site). Maybe even Chuck Schumer will show up to make an announcement, then disappear again and nothing will happen like all of his other announcements. Then the Mayor will do the fawning local media circuit proclaiming another great success, until it doesn't happen like all of his other great successes. And then a committee will be appointed...then Bob Duffy will run for congress which Slaughter will set up for him in return for killing the RenSq project which was supposed to be the site of the Theater League project...ad nauseum.
Donna Miller said on Nov. 18, 2009 at 9:58am
Mat, I appreciate your urban development lesson, obviously you have personal insight that the general public missed. I have been to different cities and I am not sure what model we are working from, if any? You are right performing arts centers are usually in the heart of downtown, but so are restaurants, retailers, businesses, and PEOPLE. The City of Rochester downtown area is a ghost town, in case you missed it. People are leaving the city everyday. The only time we have traffic downtown, is when their is a convention in town. You can build, but who will occupy. You said we did not have a firm committment from PAETEC. Do we have a firm committment of people who will occupy these housing units? What ever the reason for the failure of RenSquare, the bottom line is that we are still missing the mark when it comes to developing downtown. The decision to cancel RenSquare, put alot of people out of work. This is my prediction for 2010 and 2011. For 2010 RBTL will choose a suburban sight due to the initial lack of interest, lack of money, and lack of a plan by the City of Rochester. PAETEC will politely anounce in 2010 that they will not be building downtown due to stock prices declining. In 2011 PAETEC will build at another site outside of the city. Make no mistake, PAETEC has been a sidelne observer of the City of Rochester around business development, crime, education, and politics. PAETEC did not reach its success, by making poor business decisions. The city will move forward to place housing in Midtown and scramble for residents and other development that will occupy the Midtown site formerly PAETEC site formerly Midtown Plaza. You had my attention with your articulate respnse, then lost me at the end when you stated that "we need to find the money to make it happen" That translates to me as usual we are putting the cart before the horse. In this case NYS is so bankrupt we don't even have a horse.
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