Do the math RBTL. If a devoleper borrows $20M, $30M,or $50M for 50yrs. to build a venue you'd have to pay at least $33K, $50K, or $83K per mo. to pay his mortgage payments. Does RBTL really believe they can make such payments? Where has RBTL been since the discontinued Renaissance Square project? Probably 1,000 parking spaces could be gained if a pedestrian bridge was built over the CSX tracks making the public market lots available and signage around the rear of the former dental dispensary to make it clear that parking is allowed during RBTL productions. Modifications to the theater and A/C installation could be done for a lot less than a new theatr and, I'm sure, you'll get much more community support. "If you build it , we will come," made a good movie but it is doubtful that it will work in this case.

I think the Mayor is being "duped". It appears that RBTL is actually planning to leave the city and believes that the Mayor, with all his "cheerleading" cannot get anything done. I am willing to bet that the Mayor, his advisors, and anyone who has not watched this "dance" have not noticed that RBTL apparently wants the Mayor to do what he always does...nothing!

Is continuing media coverage of the RBTL supposed to be "news?" Why do dubious projects with no justification get such serious attention ? The RBTL leadership seems to be an arrogant, self-serving group that believes the world ( or at least local taxpayers) owe them their edifice complex. Just one look at their out-moted plans, their lack of any financial resources, and tired,baseless justification for this project should be enough to dump this concept into the garbage can. Enough ! I do not want to read another line, or hear another report, on this preposterous farce !

The question that keeps popping up is, why does Arnie Rothschild think that he has any leverage whatsoever? If he goes to the burbs he has the same issue with getting the state and county to hand him a substantial portion of both the capital costs and operating expenses for a new theater. Asking for a handout from the state while they're cutting back school support, medical support, and in some cases police support may not be the most assinine thing I've ever heard, but Rothschild's head must be square up his assinine if he thinks he holds any cards at all!

I think that the reason that RBTL thinks it makes sense to go to the suburbs is that (from their earlier announcements) building there is 25 million less than the City. i also think that in Irondequoit they may not need tax dollars to build. If I have understood the reporting on this story from the end of Ren Sq, RBTL has been saying that with private developers (Midtown is owned by the City) the burden for developing a theatre is not theirs! It is a commercial venture driven by a developers profit motive. In the City, it has to have government support since the site is owned by government and more expensive.

NO developer, in the suburbs or the city, is going to finance a money-losing, out-dated,unjustified project .Let the RBTL raise the funds to build and operate a new theater, if it is such a good idea, as Rothchild claims!

Arnie Rothschild should open up a good "Piano Bar"; you know what I mean: nice big grand piano with a formica top, and everybody sits around on stools sipping their favorite beverage while belting out their favorite Broadway tunes.

He could call it "The RBTL" and I'm certain he could find the right venue Downtown, where there's plenty of free parking at night. Rochester hasn't had a decent piano bar in years; and, success of the small scale might be the seminal stage to success on a larger scale.

I am reminded of the Chorus of one of my favorite tunes:

"No, you can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
And if you try, sometime you find
You get what you need ..."

What we want and what we need are often two different things.

Wow, an awful lot of attacking a person, and not talkng about the ideas! I went back and checked a bunch of stories...multiple developers came forth to build the theater. I wonder sometimes if people are really watching this process or just being angry? Names like Anthony Costello, Scott Congel, and Ontario County have all pitched this project.
What would happen, for example, if RBTL chose the site at Finger Lakes Racetrack....with it's 1500 or so slot machines? Are you saying that a theater and gambling do not work together? Are you saying that when Costello announced "I think it belongs in the city, but if it cannot be built there, we want it here" is not a developer of strong reputation? Are you saying that the family that has built malls all over the Northeast as Pyramid companies do not know what they need to do to build something?
I want this to stay in the city because I think it will help change downtown. If we do not have the attitude that we want to lobby to get the money, that is okay. But, a theater will be built somewhere...

Clint....you don't understand the development industry. Area developers expressed interest in building the Theater because it would be a good anchor for their developments ...but the devil is in the detail. Their interest is based on an assumption that the vast majority of the project costs will be financed by Government Grants and private sector “donors”. The developer may donate the land ...but the lion share of building the theater would have to be obtained from the government, private donors and private financing. Unfortunately it will be extremely difficult to get government financing because of the massive budget deficits. Money from private donors will be extremely problematic because of the deep recession...and the reduction of private sector assets as the result of the worst recession since the depression....And it will be nearly impossible to get any banking financing. Who would pay the annual loan installments to repay the loan? RBTL can hardly generate a hundred thousand dollars cash flow a year...whereas annual installments for the loan would need up to $6 million/year to service the debt..then there is the annual deficit to “maintain” the Theater. The bottom line....I see very little possibility of any “entity”...private or public ...building and maintaining a $70 Theater.

While I agree our region should be aggressive obtaining state/federal money...we should be diligent in planning the right project. The city desperately needs aggressive investments in creating new and exciting public projects...but the Theater just cannot demonstrate any significant economic value with the extremely high $70 million plus price tag. What is practical “now” is for the community to invest $15 million on the auditorium Theater to upgrade a historic gem that anchors a very important Arts and Cultural district in the City of Rochester.

We can continue to “dream” for another ten years...or we can quickly proceed improving a grand cultural icon...the Auditorium Theater.

In the words of clint: "Are you saying that the family that has built malls all over the Northeast as Pyramid companies do not know what they need to do to build something?"

Maybe Pyramid knew what they were doing. Mr. Congel, from what I can surmise, for one thing, knows how to pull the wool over the eyes of the sheeple around here. Have you been watching, reading or even listening to the nonsense around the former Medley Center (I cannot remember the new name of this "project")?

Irondequoit and their government appear to be drinking from the same batch of Kool-Aid that Mr. Congel is serving up. They took his bait - hook, line and sinker! How long has Syracuse been waiting for "Destiny USA" to really come to fruition? Decades I believe. They have been fleecing the taxpayers for too long, anybody with a brain can see that this is all one big, elaborate shell game.

Personally, I think Arnie might have good luck convincing the sheeple who run Irondequoit that they should support his new theater. As far as I'm concerned, this should be 100% subsidized by RBTL and whatever private donors they can muster up.

I did not post a comment to get in an argument with people who insist on "shouting down" anyone with an opposing point of view. So, this will be my last post. I have lived in many cities throughout the years that have had an attitude that they can and need to build things. In Rochester, no matter what is talked about, people explain why we cannot do things!
I did not propose that I am a real estate developer...but, I am someone who has some level of understanding of business deals and banking. In the case of developers, funding comes because the aggragate business plan works. In both the Costello and Congel cases, for different reasons, the PAC enhances their developments. In Costello's case it is a focal point for the sale of condos and homes...In Congel's, to drive demand and use of a hotel and conference center.
In the case of the City of Rochester (where I hope it is located) it can be the key to redevelopment of the city.
What all of you are minimizing is what we CAN ACCOMPLISH if we pull together! Worse, once Midtown is demolished (the funds for that are budgeted) what is the plan to rebuild it? Christa-Morgan want to build condos there. Does the PAC help that? I think it does! Now, I hope I have been gentlemanly in my comments and not attacked anyone...they are simply my thoughts (and hopes) about the growth of our downtown.