GOSHEN — Goshen Redevelopment Commission members Tuesday approved $4 million in funding for a planned $13.7 million renovation of the historic Goshen Theater.
Gina Leichty, board president of Goshen Theater Inc., the local non-profit which currently owns the theater and is spearheading the rehabilitation effort, initially brought the request to the commission during its Feb. 9 meeting, though the request was tabled to allow for more time to consider the proposal.
A feasibility study revealed the building was in relatively good condition but in need of significant rehabilitation.
According to Leichty, many of the repairs included in the proposed rehabilitation project are structural, though there are also numerous amenity upgrades proposed, such as a need for additional concession and meeting space in the front of the building, a need for additional restrooms, and need of an elevator to access all three floors.
Leichty said the theater’s auditorium and balcony also need to be brought up to code, and there are a number of issues that need to be remedied such as lack of usable dressing room space, no waiting areas, no green rooms, and lighting and audio systems that are out of date.
Leichty said the idea is to have the theater serve as a flexible use space that can accommodate everything from Broadway and musical performances to dance programs, cinema, and everything in between.
Funding
According to Leichty, four primary funding sources have been identified, one of which is the Goshen Redevelopment Commission. Grant applications will also be submitted to the Elkhart County Community Foundation and Regional Cities Initiative for $5 and $2.2 million respectively, and a private capital campaign to raise $2.5 million is underway.
Leichty informed the commission that the overall construction cost has been estimated at about $7.9 million, with an estimated startup cost of $900,000 for the first three years of operation until the theater is brought up to full utilization in year four. The proposal also includes the creation of two endowment funds to make sure things like operating costs and maintenance capital replacement costs can be covered in perpetuity, bringing the total cost of the project to $13.7 million.
Baring any complications, construction on the project is slated to begin in 2017.
Commission pledge
The commission made a point of noting that receipt of the pledged $4 million will be contingent upon Goshen Theater Inc. being able to secure commitments for the remaining $9.7 million.
Leichty said her understanding is that the application deadline for Regional Cities funding is April 1, with grant awards tentatively expected to begin around June 1, while the Elkhart County Community Foundation is planning on grant award announcements in March.
As for the $2.5 million in private capital that needs to be raised, several members of the commission noted it was this aspect of the funding plan that made them the most nervous. While pledges from organizations such as the Elkhart County Community Foundation are typically pretty cut and dry, there were concerns raised that pledges from private donors have greater potential for falling through.
Goshen city attorney Larry Barkes helped assuage some of those fears by noting that simply getting the design work for the project completed will likely take around nine months, so it will likely be close to a year before the commission will actually have to push the button on issuing the bonds for the $4 million pledge, giving them plenty of opportunities to revisit the project and gauge its progress.
Barkes also reiterated the fact that the commission will not be required to provide its share of the funding unless all three of the other funding sources come through.
“I think it’s an opportunity that we’re probably not going to have again,” said Commissioner Tom Stump in supporting the funding request. “We have an opportunity to help this project along with our commitment to this bond. I think it’s an opportunity we probably should take advantage of.”
Several members of the public also spoke in favor of the proposal Tuesday, including former Goshen City Councilman Everett Thomas, current City Councilwoman Julia Gautsche, and Goshen Chamber of Commerce President David Daugherty.
“We have a great downtown, and the last thing that really needs to be done is the theater,” Daugherty said of why he supports the project. “It’s a tremendous asset that I’d hate to see us lose.”
Dan Cripe of the Elkhart-based architectural firm Cripe Design, which was responsible for the recent rehabilitation of Elkhart’s Lerner Theatre, echoed Daugherty’s comments.
“It’s a gem, and it should be restored,” Cripe said of the theater. “It’s really going to make Goshen complete.”
The request was approved unanimously.
The request will now move forward for consideration by the Goshen City Council later this year.