Spend that WND money!

[Made in the USA]

CFAB recommends exploring possibility of buying Dodge Theater
By Eric Swanson
Dodge City Daily Globe

The Community Facilities Advisory Board is interested in exploring the possibility of purchasing the Dodge Theater and the adjacent office building with "Why Not Dodge" sales tax money.
The board voted unanimously Thursday to recommend negotiating an option to buy the property from owner Mike Burkhart. The recommendation will be submitted to the Dodge City and Ford County Commissions, which will have the final say.

Purchasing an option would give the city time to have a team of experts inspect the property and decide whether buying and renovating it would be feasible.



City officials do not know yet how much either the option or the building would cost, but funding would come from the portion of annual sales tax revenues set aside for eligible tourist attractions in 2007.

City Manager Jeff Pederson said the theater has played a major role in the community's history, but the city's interest in acquiring the property and renovating it is fairly recent.

"I'm not sure that thoughts on what that space might be used for are necessarily very well developed at this point in time, but there are some notions out there, including the possibility of an area to display some of our Western heritage artifacts," he said.

Other possibilities for the property include showing films, stage productions and other activities related to the area's heritage.

The Heritage Development Group's proposal for developing the special events center includes a recommendation for purchasing and renovating the Dodge Theater, but the possible acquisition of that property would be separate from the group's proposal.



Although this would probably be a good idea, I know that the facility is in alot of disrepair. What would it cost to fix it up and maintain it?? If the City keeps up this spending, sooner or later they will own the whole town!

[Bubba]

Actually might not be a bad idea...a lot of history in that old building. It could be put to a better use than it is now.

[lurker]

It'll prolly turn-out to be snobby much like the depot theater... or the senior center....

[TexKan]

Why is the Sr Center and the Depot snobby?

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by TexKan

Why is the Sr Center and the Depot snobby?

Cause Lurker is too old (130 in dog years) and Bassetts are kinda "snooty"!!

What worries me about the theater is the condition of the building. I know form experience that it has some major problems. Alot of other towns have taken over their theaters and re-worked them. Hutch and Augusta are two that pop into my mind. I think it would be great, just don't know what it is going to cost us!

[TexKan]

Most places that do that have a volunteer group (historical) that usually do the elbow work. It's usually a labor of love more than profit. We have a theater in downtown Texas city and in Galveston that restored - Galveston's is the Grand Opera house - they have awsome entertainment and a yearly schedule. The preforming arts seem to really profit as well as the community. It's pricey but then it's cheaper than theater in Houston.

I was just wonderin why the other 2 places were in the "snooty" catagory.

[Made in the USA]

The Depot Theater has really good shows, I have heard from many people. I know alot of those people, and I don't know why they would be considered "snooty"! I guess we are not used to "cultural events" in DC! The Senior Center, I don't know cause I am banned for trying to party too much there!!

Yes, alot of them are historical groups. I know the Fox Theatre in Hutch was put together by volunteer groups. They do have some good shows there.

Remember when they used to have the Milburn Stone Theater at St. Marys? Is it still there? That would be something to move to the Downtown Theater. I have been to alot of "Historic" old towns, and they usuall show some sort of history type productions in those type of places! I think it wold be good for our "tourism"!