Soundstage proposal for auditorium under dubious review
"This can become ‘Unconditional Surrender’ times 10," said Sarasota Vice Mayor Kelly Kirschner.
The reference to the controversial bayfront statue of a sailor smooching a woman was made during the discussion Monday of yet another hot-button, change-in-use proposal in the city.
The city’s venerable Municipal Auditorium on the North Trail – it’s that Art Deco Quonset hut kind of place around Seventh Street – has received a takeover offer by another of the city’s venerable entities, the Ringling College of Art and Design.
The college wants to create a soundstage in the auditorium if the city will agree to its proffer of a $1-a-year lease. The college would convert the 12,000-square-foot building into a state-of-the-art locale for film creation as part of its burgeoning film and graphic programs and other activities, with the promise of reaping big bucks for the local economy in the process.
City officials are rolling video on the deal but haven’t reached a full take on the offer. Staff is looking into the matter.
Here’s some back story. Call this a prequel.
The Municipal Auditorium was built compliments of funds and workers associated with the Works Progress Administration to aid people trying to get through the Great Depression. The building was renovated during a boom time a few years ago.
It is also one of the few city buildings that has made a profit of late, renting to an assorted but paying collection of shell dealers, antique sellers and graduation parties.
The facility, in short, is a Municipal Auditorium catering to all in the municipality.
Ringling College President Larry R. Thompson said he needs a soundstage. The auditorium would be perfect, he told the commissioners and city officials, in that it’s close to the college, big enough for most films that occasionally come to town and purportedly able to be renovated at the college’s expense for its new life.
Some stage and screen folks point out two things:
• Soundstages are basically really big spaces that are really quiet to facilitate filming without any distractions. The Municipal Auditorium is a big tin can located a couple hundred feet from the 18,000-vehicle-per-day U.S. 41 with all its noise and vibration.
• The hall is making money for the city. Much more money than the proposed $1 a year the college would pay for its lease.
The commissioners appeared mixed on the deal when they discussed it at their meeting Monday. Kirschner suggested that several other venues within the city could be a better mix for the college than the auditorium.
He also said that if the city did want to divest itself of the auditorium he had at least one furniture manufacturer who would love to take over the hall – and employ 100 city residents to boot.
City staff will bring a report back to the commission in the near future.
FOR THE ARMY
Political wonks will probably love a rare blend of legislative, quasi-judicial and other land-use changes that were approved by the Sarasota City commission Monday.
The Salvation Army received unanimous approval for a whole host of changes to its property at Tuttle Avenue and 17th Street in northeast Sarasota. The land is right on the city-county border. One of the approvals was to have a sliver of that property in the county annexed into the city.
Salvation Army representatives have quietly been acquiring land and demolishing structures in preparation for what will be a 200-seat church and related facilities. No public comment was offered on the mix of requests.
… AND BEYOND
It’s time for the fair!
The Sarasota County Fair runs from March 19-28 at the fairgrounds off Fruitville Road. Hours are noon to 11 p.m., Saturdays; 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., weekdays. Admission is $8 for adults; $4 for kids ages 6 to 17, as well as seniors. Free admission is offered Monday through Thursday for those who get there between 2 and 4 p.m.
Yes, free admission.
There are myriad features of the fair, from bands to sea lions to Rosaire’s Racing Pigs. The steer sale March 26 is a pretty big deal, as is the swine sale March 27.
See the cows. See the goats, and chickens and baked goods. After 74 years, fair officials have figured out how to provide a good time for all.
And don’t forget the midway rides.