Monday, February 13, 2012

Our Say: Should state finance another city arts center?

Published 02/08/10

The enterprising developer of Park Place in Annapolis, Jerome Parks, has asked the local delegation to the General Assembly to introduce a bill authorizing a $250,000 bond as seed money for a $60 million performing arts center. The facility - a keystone of Parks' West Street development - would be only blocks from the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, a community institution with similar interests.

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We applaud Parks for what he has done to restore economic vitality to an abandoned corner of the city, but in this economy should taxpayers be asked to underwrite a second performing arts center in Annapolis? The $250,000 Parks...

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One sided? - 2010-02-12 13:50:41

I guess as Editor, Tom Marquardt has the ability and right to present his agenda and side.

I really do not see this as the detriment to MD Hall. Quite the opposite. MD Hall is a "working" Theater for Perfoming Arts. Classes are taken there, artists in residents hone their skills and crafts, and it is truly a gem of Annapolis. However, it is still a refurbished high school from way back when and limited in terms of what it can do.

Both venues would be able to feed off one another. With a world class venue, we could bring more revenue to the City (or are we all ok on the deficit now?) in terms of tax dollars, taxes on ticket sales, and ancillary revenue from the people who would attend performances.

I also understand that this ultimately would be mostly funded privately. Sure they are asking for some public money--and this may not be the year, but in light of the way the government is spending, $250K seems a pittance.

I have also heard that absent the center, the alternative is a high rise office building. What is going to give you more bang for your buck in the long run?

As for Jerry Parks being interested in making money...what's wrong with that?

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John Frenaye - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

No, No and NO - 2010-02-10 08:02:08

If they want to build this "Bad Idea" center... Then go and ask AIG for the money! I am sick and tired of Govt. using MY money for projects as this. WE do not want it. YOU (the politicians, Mr. Astle) work for us. Stop this ridiculous idea and move to more important issues, or: "Your Fired"!

Instead of an Arts Center, I would vote for a center for battered and abused women and children. Or a home complex to help get prostitutes off the streets.

I aggree with Fred, in that later on when we can all buy $100 bottles of wine on a whim, and can afford to have health care (NOT Govt health care), etc., then MAYBE I would agree to having MY tax dollars spent on an Arts Center, but I doubt it...

Note: I am not against Art by any means. I think it is an important aspect in education and community. But just not now. Same as now isn't the time for ANY tax money to go towards bonuses or raises (Hear that politicians???).

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Mike Newman - Odenton, MD - Karma: Neutral

With out a doubt, no. - 2010-02-08 20:03:07

Love the comment "We applaud Parks for what he has done to restore economic vitality to an abandoned corner of the city". What a load of B.S. Parks built Park Place for one reason and one reason alone, to make Parks more money. And shame on our government for allowing such an overbearing, architectural "poo in a punch bowl" to be built! Parks would like nothing more than to get the tax payers to bring more notoriety and potential buyers to his overpriced "snobatoroium" and help his dismal sales. Why don't we fund one in 1901 West as well?

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Dave Swarthough - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

My say to Your Question - 2010-02-08 13:43:50

Not a good time for We the People to even consider a subsidy of this type. Let this proposed Center get its money from investors. These are risky times my friends and We the Taxpayers should not put our money at risk. Let them find money elsewhere and later on, if things on the economic front change maybe then we can buy into the developors grandiose plans,, but clearly now is not a good time.
I also dislike the idea of our representatives wasting time even debating this idea . We have more urgent things to consider.

What do annapolitans want for this town, do we want it to be over the top , or do want it to stay the way it is now.

Developers have had way too much to much control over our cute little city, it is time the people have their own vision.

John Astle , what say you ?

Annapolis really does not need any prestige, does it ?

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible