Hammer on the GPAC
From John Hammer at The Rhino Times:
Vaughan made a motion to postpone any bond referendum until next spring and it passed by a 7-to-2 vote with Wade and Bellamy Small voting no.
The city so far has spent $50,000 plus staff time on the performing arts center, but Perkins said that the city needed to be prepared to write a check for $1 million to cover design fees, options on land and other expenses.
From Amanda Lehmert at the N&R:
[T]he council will consider holding a special election next spring to seek voter support for building a downtown performing arts center. It would cost the city more than $200,000 to hold a special election, City Manager Denise Turner Roth said.
The city will neither spend $1M on GPAC expenses, nor will there be a special bond referendum in the spring costing $200K.
From Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at the N&R:
Keith Holliday, CEO of the downtown Carolina Theatre, said Wednesday that he favors the site near the Carolina.
The delay gives time to pursue adding a 220-seat studio theater on the third floor of his 1,100-seat historic venue, Holliday said. Several arts groups have said they need a venue that size.
“When you look around the country, you usually see performing arts centers with more than one venue,” he said. “We can do all three sizes in the same block for the price of one.”
If there is to be a GPAC at all, this is the configuration. And it will occur without Robbie Perkins as mayor.
