New Theatre Info

Despite the delays and the reconfigurations there will be a new theater without a doubt.

We hope the new theater will be next to the second Logistics Health Inc. building, and that likely will happen, we are still working on all the fine details with the Weber Family. 

But if for some unforeseen reason that we don’t reach and agreement LCT will find somewhere else to build.

What’s the biggest misconception about building a new theater?
That there would be a shared common area with LHI; LCT did have a common area, in the first design, but when LHI grew faster than expected, there was no longer room for the theater in that building. Now the plan is to build the theater just south of the second building along Front Street.

Will the theater be built along Front Street?
We’re trying to take advantage of that river view, the land is a for-sure generous donation, but there’s no longer a reason to be attached to the second LHI building. We are still talking with the Weber Family about any other help he can give but we are grateful that he is willing to donate the land. Where the land is, that’s where we want to stay. This could be a jewel down on the river.

Will the property be tax exempt?
We are still in talks with the city about property taxes. This is a big issue for the theater, because right now we pay about $6,000 a year in property taxes for the Fifth Avenue building. At the new location, it’s likely to be about $250,000, and we can’t handle that kind of tax bill. We will have a determination around March of 2008.

What will be the price tag of the new building?
It’s hard to say, because we are still working on the redesign drawings for the building. But it will be less than the original plan of $10 million. That would be hard for us to raise.

When will a decision be made?
In March, we’re hoping to unveil what it will look like. This is the single biggest event in our history, and I don’t want to rush the decision. This is a community project, and the community will be determine our success.  

Is a remodel of the Fifth Avenue a possible fallback position?
It would require us to demo the entire building and rebuild. We are land locked in our current area and it would be difficult to expand. This space has been great to us, but after 45 years the theater has outgrown the building.