HomeMy WebLinkAbout186-15 RESOLUTION113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-8323
Resolution: 186-15
File Number: 2015-0407
THEATRE SQUARED CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT:
A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THEATRE SQUARED AND ITS
INTENT TO LEASE 0.8 ACRE OF CITY PROPERTY AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WEST
AND SPRING AS THEATRE SQUARED'S NEW PERMANENT PERFORMANCE FACILITY
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared is a non-profit professional theater organization offering 220 performances
annually in the Entertainment District and in local schools and is the only such theater of this nature in a 150
mile radius; and
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared offers professional theater productions for broadly accessible and partially
subsidized ticket prices; and
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared has provided free educational programs for 1,500 Fayetteville students and is
listed as one of America's top ten emerging theaters; and
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared has received (with City of Fayetteville support) a competitive Our Town
grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to begin the design exploration process for a new facility.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby expresses its support of
Theatre Squared and its intent to lease 0.8 acres of City property at the southeast corner of West and Spring
as Theatre Squared's new permanent performance facility.
PASSED and APPROVED on 10/6/2015
page 1 Printed on 1017/15
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Attest:
Resolution 186-15
Sondra E. Smith, City Clerk Treasurer
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Page 2 Printed on 9017195
City of Fayetteville, Arkansas 113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
{479} 575-8323
Text File
File Number: 2015-0407
Agenda Date: 10/6/2015 Version: 1 Status: Passed
In Control: City Council Meeting File Type: Resolution
Agenda Number: C. 7
THEATRE SQUARED CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT:
A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THEATRE SQUARED
AND ITS INTENT TO LEASE 0.8 ACRE OF CITY PROPERTY AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER
OF WEST AND SPRING AS THEATRE SQUARED' S NEW PERMANENT PERFORMANCE
FACILITY
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared is a non-profit professional theater organization offering 220
performances annually in the Entertainment District and in local schools and is the only such theater of
this nature in a 150 mile radius; and
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared offers professional theater productions for broadly accessible and
partially subsidized ticket prices; and
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared has provided free educational programs for 1,500 Fayetteville students
and is listed as one of America's top ten emerging theaters; and .
WHEREAS, Theatre Squared has received (with City of Fayetteville support) a competitive Our Town
grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to begin the design exploration process for a new
facility.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby expresses its support of
Theatre Squared and its intent to lease 0.8 acres of City property at the southeast corner of West and
Spring as Theatre Squared's new permanent performance facility.
Lily ofPayetteville, Arkansas Page 1 Printed on 109/x015
City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form
2015-0407
Legistar File ID
9/15/2015
City Council Meeting Date - Agenda Item Only
N/A for Non -Agenda Item
Jeremy Pate 8/28/2015 Development Services /
Development Services Department
Submitted By Submitted Date Division / Department
Action Recommendation:
A Resolution expressing the City Council's support of Theatre Squared and the intent to utilize the City of
Fayetteville 0.8 -acre property at the southeast corner of West Avenue and Spring Street as a new permanent home
for an expanded theater, and to authorize the mayor to negotiate terms for a long-term lease or sale of the
property, which must be ultimately approved by the City Council
Budget Impact:
Account Number
Project Number
Budgeted Item? NA Current Budget
Funds Obligated
Current Balance
Does item have a cost? No
Budget Adjustment Attached? No
Item Cost
Budget Adjustment
Remaining Budget
Fund
Project Title
I
V20140710
Previous Ordinance or Resolution #
Original Contract Number:
Comments:
Approval Date: OLUd b, WLl J
CITY OF
evi e
ARKANSAS
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
TO: Fayetteville City Council
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMO
THRU: Mayor Lioneld Jordan
FROM: Jeremy Pate, Development Services Director
DATE: August 28, 2015
SUBJECT: Theatre Squared — Use of City Property for Permanent Home
RECOMMENDATION:
A Resolution expressing the City Council's support of Theatre Squared and the intent to
utilize the City of Fayetteville 0.8 -acre property at the southeast corner of West Avenue and Spring
Street as a new permanent home for an expanded theater, and to authorize the mayor to negotiate
terms for a long-term lease or sale of the property, which must be ultimately approved by the City
Council
BACKGROUND:
Theatre Squared is a non-profit professional theater offering 220 year-round performances
in the downtown arts district and in local schools, the only theater of this nature in a 150 -mile
radius. Theatre Squared offers visitors access to professional theater artists in productions that
are conceived, rehearsed and performed only in Fayetteville; broadly accessible ticket prices,
many of which are subsidized for Fayetteville residents; educational programs reaching 1500
Fayetteville students at no cost; and free tickets for clients of various non-profit organizations in
Fayetteville. It is the top -rated attraction for Fayetteville on the on-line service TripAdvisor, and
has received recognition by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, as one of
the nation's ten best emerging theaters. The organization is currently leasing space from the
Walton Arts Center in the Nadine Baum Studio as its primary performance area, and has several
satellite locations for storing equipment, offices and other supporting activities.
Growth in the organization and region suggests that the capacity of Theatre Squared has
yet to be realized. A recent study commissioned by the theater determined that their rapid and
sustained growth over the past 10 years, along with national recognition and the cultural arts
amenities drawing millions to the region, compels the organization to explore opportunities for an
expanded and new permanent home. Significant infrastructure challenges, operating constraints
and immediate capacity issues emerged from this long-term facilities plan, resulting in a new focus
on building "an intimate, state-of-the-art, permanent home." And we all want that home to be in
downtown Fayetteville.
Theatre Squared recently announced the award of a competitive Our Town grant from the
National Endowment of the Arts to begin the design exploration process. The City supported
Theatre Squared in this grant application, and would like to continue that support to the fullest
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www_fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
extent possible. After reviewing several sites to locate a new permanent home in downtown
Fayetteville, where the synergy of cultural arts, entertainment and necessary supporting amenities
are available, Theatre Squared determined the property best situated to add to the performing
arts destination that is downtown Fayetteville is a site at the southeast comer of West Avenue
and Spring Street, home to a parking lot that has been utilized as a construction staging and
Walton Arts Center staff parking for much of the past year. This property offers the size and
proximity to public parking, the Walton Arts Center, Dickson Street, and other amenities that a
downtown theater needs to thrive.
DISCUSSION:
Theatre Squared is formally requesting that the City support their intent to begin a several -
month long design process on this property, identifying it as the preferred site for their new home.
Without this initial commitment by the Council, producing conceptual and schematic design on a
site that isn't at least being seriously considered as the new home to Theatre Squared would be
too risky. By doing so, the City Council would also authorize the mayor to enter into negotiations
establishing the terms for a long-term lease or sale of the property to Theatre Squared for this
stated purpose. It would be the intent for staff to bring back a negotiated agreement in the spring
of 2016. Staff fully supports this endeavor, as we believe the impact of an expanded, unique
professional theater in the downtown can be significant draw for tourism and economic
development. The impact to the City from Theatre Squared currently is estimated at $2.3 million
per year; it is estimated that a world -class, locally programmed, nationally recognized arts
destination will nearly double the ongoing economic impact to more than $4 million annually once
the new facility is in operation. In combination with the Walton Arts Center expansion and the
amenities that downtown Fayetteville has to offer, this facility, if fully realized, will add to the
Northwest Arkansas region's arsenal of cultural amenities, thereby fueling tourism and spending
in our economies.
BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT:
The decision to dedicate the subject property to development does not come without an
eventual cost. Currently this property contains a public, pay parking lot containing approximately
54 spaces. The property was evaluated in 2012 as a possible location for the new parking deck,
but was the first removed for consideration due primarily to its smaller size for a parking deck
and impact on adjacent properties. For the better part of the last year, the property has been out
of commission as a parking lot, as it is currently serving as a lay-down/staging area for the
parking deck construction as well as temporary dedicated parking for Walton Arts Center staff,
until the parking deck is complete. The revenue from this parking lot, like all public parking
downtown, is dedicated to paying back the bonds issued for the deck construction. In
discussions with the Finance Director, this revenue dedication from the South Lot can likely be
transferred to the parking deck once it is open, subject to approval by our bond counsel;
however it is critical that the parking deck is open and functioning with a proven usage rate to
offset this revenue before any other use could occupy the space. That timetable works well with
Theatre Squared's schedule for design and future capital fundraising for construction.
Another consideration is that the City will want to condition a lease or sale agreement of
the property upon Theatre Squared's ability to raise the necessary funding to construct the
facility that serves the public in the manner described. Any lease that the Mayor brings back to
the City Council will include a provision to this effect.
Attachments:
Letter of Request
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Mayor Lioneld Jordan
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City Hall
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113 W. Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
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August 27, 2015
Lynn Donald 4 ar•,er, Pres€darn
Arts Ach'oc -n.
Patric Brosh, V€Ce ?resyi€sA
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Mayor Jordan,
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We write to you and to the Fayetteville City Council at a defining moment for
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TheatreSquared and for our community.
I..iSSe
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Jay Gre5,,ne
As know, the theatre's recent growth has been exponential —with a tenfold
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increase in T2's audience and budget over the past few seasons, as well as significant
in its impact on the local economy to $2.3 million each year. It's a strong
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reflection on Fayetteville and our region that, with grassroots support, a non-profit
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company has grown to be recognized by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony
Awards, as one of the nation's ten best emerging theatres.
TheatreSquared plays a vital role as the only professional theatre producing a year-round
season within a 150 -mile radius. Rapid growth in the patron base for peer arts
organizations in NWA—including prominent new cultural pillars like Crystal Bridges, the
Amazeum', and others still on the drawing boards —suggests that tens of thousands of
additional potential audience members reside in the area, while tens of thousands more
have begun to travel to the region each year to seek out unique arts experiences. There
is considerable opportunity to grow T2's offerings and audience and to make permanent
the company's impact both as a major local economic engine and as a unique, accessible
arts destination for all who live in or visit Northwest Arkansas.
To advance this vision, earlier this year, the T2 Board charged a special community task
force to recommend a long-term facilities plan for the company. This task force was
supported by the London -based theatre consultancy Charcoalblue, who traveled to
Fayetteville to assess T2's current rented space. Charcoalblue's in-depth study,
conducted over a period of several months, found significant infrastructure challenges, systemic operating
constraints, and an immediate capacity ceiling that will soon limit the company's growth.
Recognizing these challenges —and with a strong desire to offer artists and local audiences a still -higher standard of
excellence —the community task force made a strong recommendation, which was then unanimously approved by
the T2 Board: to build an intimate, state-of-the-art, permanent home for TheatreSquared.
We're thrilled to have recently received a competitive Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to
begin the design process. Given our strong identity and history in downtown Fayetteville, it is no surprise that our
task force's top candidate for a building site is located here: specifically, the city -owned property at the southwest
corner of West Ave. and Spring St currently in use as a construction staging area.
To allow T2 to begin the design process, we formally request that the Fayetteville City Council memorialize its
support by authorizing the mayor to draft either a long-term lease or transfer agreement for the site, recognizing as
consideration the major improvements planned and the ongoing public advantage provided by the theatre's
subsidized programs serving tens of thousands of audience members and youth each year.
This large-scale cultural building project will have a considerable impact on Fayetteville's local economy —
generating nearly $40 million in direct and indirect spending during construction alone, and nearly doubling T2's
ongoing economic impact to more than $4 million annually after the building is completed. The outcome will be a
truly world -class, locally programmed, nationally recognized arts destination in the heart of downtown Fayetteville.
Along with the renovations now underway at the Walton Arts Center, we see the emergence of a true performing
arts district that advances the city's Downtown Master Plan and defines our downtown as an arts destination for
generations.
Thank you for your leadership and support for this vision. We're excited to begin the design process together with
you and with our community.
Sincerely,
Bob Ford Martin Miller
Artistic Director Executive Director
1 ynn Carver Hers ey Gar r
Board President Corn ask Force
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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
LIONELD JORDAN
January 12, 2015
National Endowment for the Arts
Design Program Staff
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506-0001
To Whom It May Concern:
As Mayor of the City of Fayetteville and the local government's highest-ranking official, I am proud to
lend my support to this cultural planning and design request. Our community's vision for downtown
Fayetteville will be greatly advanced by a theatre commons anchored by TheatreSquared — a
company that encapsulates in its art and welcoming spirit what is best and most distinctive about
Fayetteville.
On behalf of the City, I commit to working with our City Council to contribute city -owned property in
the downtown area to this effort. Locating this creative hub in the heart of Fayetteville's downtown
arts district has the potential to create a walkable link connecting Fayetteville's best cultural assets.
TheatreSquared's remarkable growth in its first nine years has been driven by artistry and will. This
is not an institution that emerged fully formed; these artists earned their credibility simply by
mounting one top-notch play after another. After each performance, its leaders are invariably there
to greet audience members at the theatre's exit. This level of community engagement, combined
with an uncompromising artistic standard, has amassed a deep reservoir of goodwill for
TheatreSquared in our city.
While Fayetteville has always been an oasis for the arts, we began to shape our growth towards the
ideal of a compact, livable downtown a decade ago with the release of our Downtown Master Plan,
We've made great steps toward this vision in the last ten years, but achieving the design plan
outlined in this request would be a great leap forward. A smartly planned home for TheatreSquared
and for professional artists, living and working on site, could serve as both a real and symbolic
connection between our key downtown cultural assets the missing link to allow us to become the
"experience -based arts economy" envisioned in our downtown plan.
We can't conceive this transformation without broad input and smart design. I hope that grant
support from NEA's Our Town program will help us launch this process with a level of artistry to
match the exceptional work on TheatreSquared's stage. Please feel free to contact me directly at
(479) 575-8330 or mayor@ci.fayetteville.ar.us. I will be happy to voice my strong support for this
project and answer any questions you may have.
S' cerely,
Lione J dan
Mayo
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE 1 113 W. MOUNTAIN STREET ( FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72701 1 479.575.8330 1 WWW.FAYETTEVILLE-AR.GOV