Fairhope, Alabama
COUNCIL'S WORK SESSION DISCUSSION
RFQ bids are being sought for a consultant to do a feasibility study for a performing arts facility for the city -- including its size, location, how it would be funded (would the community even support one?) and the type of programming to be presented there.
"The City of Fairhope invites consultants to submit qualifications to conduct a Performing Arts Center Feasibility Study, as outlined in this document and attachments. The City is seeking an enthusiastic and creative consultant qualified to produce a strategic plan outlining a step-by-step road map tailored to achieving our specific goals for funding, phasing, implementing and sustaining a performing arts center in Fairhope."
Initial cost for the consultant would be up to $35K but could go higher if need be.
An Arts Committee could then be formed to evaluate the consultant's findings and make a recommendation to the city council: some sort of public/private partnership is envisioned.
At least two private organizations have attempted to raise money over the years for a facility, the Fairhope Center for the Performing Arts and Colony Center for the Performing Arts, but both failed and some leftover funds were used for the new Faulkner Amphitheater.
Possible locations mentioned over the years include the K-1 property, the Dyas triangle, Fairhope high School campus, behind the library, and city hall/civic center campus (rebuild).
The K-1, vacant since 2010 and deteriorating badly, is owned by the Baldwin County Board of Education but the building needs extensive costly restoration/renovation: Some local non profits (FEEF) have been in discussion with them about helping convert the property for education/performing arts, but the status of those negotiations are not being made public.
The cost of renovating it could be much more than the cost of a new building and complex school board political issues could be problematic as well.
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| too costly to renovate? |
COUNCIL'S WORK SESSION DISCUSSION
RFQ bids are being sought for a consultant to do a feasibility study for a performing arts facility for the city -- including its size, location, how it would be funded (would the community even support one?) and the type of programming to be presented there.
"The City of Fairhope invites consultants to submit qualifications to conduct a Performing Arts Center Feasibility Study, as outlined in this document and attachments. The City is seeking an enthusiastic and creative consultant qualified to produce a strategic plan outlining a step-by-step road map tailored to achieving our specific goals for funding, phasing, implementing and sustaining a performing arts center in Fairhope."
Initial cost for the consultant would be up to $35K but could go higher if need be.An Arts Committee could then be formed to evaluate the consultant's findings and make a recommendation to the city council: some sort of public/private partnership is envisioned.
At least two private organizations have attempted to raise money over the years for a facility, the Fairhope Center for the Performing Arts and Colony Center for the Performing Arts, but both failed and some leftover funds were used for the new Faulkner Amphitheater.
Possible locations mentioned over the years include the K-1 property, the Dyas triangle, Fairhope high School campus, behind the library, and city hall/civic center campus (rebuild).
The K-1, vacant since 2010 and deteriorating badly, is owned by the Baldwin County Board of Education but the building needs extensive costly restoration/renovation: Some local non profits (FEEF) have been in discussion with them about helping convert the property for education/performing arts, but the status of those negotiations are not being made public.
The cost of renovating it could be much more than the cost of a new building and complex school board political issues could be problematic as well.
Comments
Sad to see.
Why does a city this size need one?
Are we going to get a Fairhope symphony orchestra too?
another money pit.
When the deal fell through, all of the trees in the interior of the property were harvested for lumber; some were left around the perimeter only.
What is left in the interior of that segment is only new growth trees, shrubs, weeds, etc.
The Village North plan was later approved anyway; but without the arts center.
The western segment of the triangle (west of
Veteran's drive) has been harvested for wood several times as well, but not in recent history.
There is a grain of truth to the thread here though: recently our reporters have noticed a growing lack of transparency from the school board concerning this and some other issues: state open meeting laws are apparently not being followed to allow the media and public full access to their deliberations.
Granted, it is much easier to do in private when nobody's watching, but that is contrary to the law and further erodes trust in the Board: puts employees in an impossible situation too.