Carefree Truth

Issue #332, July 11, 2014

 

 

After Peter Strupp finished his presentation, Mayor David Schwan explained that the Desert Foothills Theater (DFT) had heard Carefree was looking for a cultural anchor.  They approached the Town several weeks ago and presented the idea of the Theater as that attraction.  After several discussions, Mayor Schwan requested that they present their proposal to the Council and to the public at the July Council meeting.  He asked if the Council members had any questions for Mr. Strupp.

 

 

 

Councilman Glenn Miller asked, "What's our next step?"  Mr. Strupp replied that the next step is for the Council to agree to continue the conversation, and that these are the early steps of a very long road together.

 

 

 

Councilwoman Melissa Price asked how many seats were in DFT's current venue.  Mr. Strupp said most of the performances are held in the Cactus Shadow Black Box Theater, which has 160 seats.  The main stage there has 432 seats.

 

 

 

Vice Mayor Les Peterson spoke of conversations over the past 12 months with the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum.  Both required operating expenses, reimbursement of capital expenses incurred to locate here, and continuous assistance.  DFT has appeal within the community and is capacity constrained in its current location.  Festivals bring in people, but DFT appears to be a steady influx to overlay other kinds of spikes.  DFT also has proven management, and sustainability is crucial.  The Town and the Theater would work together on a minimum 10 year plan.  The theater venue could draw other artists such as Musicfest, the Library, and the Arizona State University (ASU) Museum.  It matches well with Carefree's cultural branding, and putting the Council Chambers and a Cultural Center together saves money for all.  He is very much in support of this project.

 

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar said that he and his daughter really enjoy theater.  A Cultural Center brings people together and is a great social environment.  He asked if the Foothills Community Foundation (FCF) and DFT would be leaving the Holland Center and locating in Carefree.  Mr. Strupp explained that the offices would remain there.  Coming to Carefree would remove DFT from the Cactus Shadows Fine Art Center.  Mr. Farrar said he was excited by the presentation, and asked if the capital campaign for construction and operating expenses would be shared.

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan clarified that 1.5 million dollars was included in the budget for a Council Chambers.  The Town is talking to DFT about a partnership.  Carefree would build and own the building, leasing the space to DFT for 1 dollar a year, but DFT would launch a fundraising campaign towards construction costs and to cover their ongoing operating expenses.  The Town cannot supply ongoing contributions for operations.  All agreed that fundraising efforts increase community excitement, generating a feeling of "ownership" for projects.

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar broached the issue of parking.  Mayor Schwan said the current zoning requires 1 space for every 3 seats.  There are several opportunities with adjoining land, a large parking lot, and spaces on the street.  The Mayor agreed that theater is an intense parking use because many patrons arrive simultaneously, and said the Town is working on solutions.  

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar asked if there is a dialogue with ASU.  Mayor Schwan replied that meetings have been held with ASU and DFT.  DFT Director Meribeth Reeves has the access granted by a good working relationship to the performing arts at ASU.  Mr. Farrar wondered what ASU was envisioning in a collaborative effort.  The Mayor explained that ASU had been invited to appear at the Council meeting too, but their representative was unable to attend due to a his travel schedule.

 

 

 

Councilman John Crane felt there must be an effort made to gauge how much funding is available.  What is the process and how long does it take?  Mr. Strupp replied that dedicated fundraising efforts take a minimum of 6 months, in part due to the seasonal nature of many residents.  It could be part of a larger effort by the FCF, under which DFT operates.  He again stressed that people need to feel "ownership" in a project, and that it must be approached correctly.  Mr. Crane asked how future anticipated theater budgeted expenses compare to current expenses.  Mr. Strupp opined that it is a "feasible leap", not a huge one.

 

 

 

Ms. Price said she hoped that ASU would make a presentation at the August Council meeting.  Mayor Schwan explained that the man who runs the ASU theater travels internationally, and is not going to cancel a trip to Geneva to come to Carefree.   Ms. Price asked if DFT supports the Easy Street Project.  Mayor Schwan responded that Ed Lewis says he needs an anchor, and he doesn't care where it is or who it is.  The Mayor believes it belongs next to Town Hall because there is better availability to expand parking, and the Town Hall is the center of municipal life in Carefree.

 

 

 

Ms. Price pointed out that Ed Lewis had stated he wants to break ground in the beginning of 2015.  Mayor Schwan lauded Mr. Lewis' optimism, but said that he had submitted no plans or engineering drawings to the Town, and he failed to see how Mr. Lewis could keep to that schedule with no submissions to the Town to date.  Ms. Price asked, "Isn't he waiting for us to help, being supportive with a draw?"  The Mayor replied, "Well, we're trying to do this, and in all honesty, these people are probably 2 years ahead of ASU.  ASU has told us, 'We bring no money with us.  Everything that we need to come to Carefree would have to be raised.'  So, here you have a local group that says, 'We're interested in doing this.  We know how to move forward.'  ASU said, 'We have this invitation from Mr. Lewis to come up here but we're starting from ground zero.'  They really have no concept of what they would bring to us, and they have said, 'We have no money, so we have to begin at ground zero to get money to come.'  In my estimation, this group is light years ahead of ASU in making this vision a reality."

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar said we are having this conversation because we are trying to be supportive of the Ed Lewis project, and trying to assist the Town in terms of growing and fostering itself as a place of destination.  He would like to hear what Ed Lewis and ASU have to say, and he would like to see a congruency between the theater and the art museum.

 

 

 

Vice Mayor Peterson explained that Ed Lewis has been involved in the bulk of these conversations between FCF/DFT and ASU.  There have been numerous discussions and presentations.  He has stated that it doesn't have to be on his property; it could be anywhere.  The Vice Mayor agreed with the Mayor that DFT is way ahead of ASU, which is running a number of initiatives.  He felt that the Town should proceed and use ASU as a component to the extent that it can.  "Certainly not to exclude them, but they have a number of things on their plate right now.  I'm interpreting Mr. Lewis as saying, 'This is a very exciting project.  This could meet the criteria.' "

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan added, "I don't necessarily connect this project with the Ed Lewis project.  Pretend that Ed Lewis wasn't there, and this group came to us and said, 'You're doing economic development.  There's a proposal for you to invest money and bring people into downtown.'  Would you consider this project if Ed Lewis wasn't there at all?  Personally, I would because I think this is a reasonable proposal to attract people into the town center. So I disassociate the Ed Lewis project and this, and look at it as a separate project, saying, 'Does this make sense for economic development?'  Maybe yes; maybe no.  We are at the beginning of this process, so there are no answers yet."

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar said, "I too feel this could stand on its own, or hopefully in some sort of collaborative effort that's all positive moving forward with Ed Lewis."  Vice Mayor Peterson agreed that, "If this has legs enough to stand on its own, it would be a home run in concert with other initiatives that could go on."

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan stated there are a lot of possibilities that need to be explored.  Mr. Crane said it is certainly worthy of consideration to explore even without Ed Lewis, but emphasized the necessity to look at cost vs. economic development before it gets too far along.  The Vice Mayor pointed out that this will run in concert with the work of the consultant, and is fortuitous timing.  I approached the podium, saying that Herbert and I used to go to London frequently when we lived in Philadelphia.  We loved going to  West End plays.  The restaurants and bars were always busy in the Theater District both before and after plays.  The theaters provided a significant economic benefit.    

 

 

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/100007198/e3a94d6c54

 

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed to an uncharted land."

Helen Keller

 

 

 

 

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