Shooting the breeze...
POSTED:Sat, March 22, 2008 @ 5:00PM
Is the Capitol Music Hall capable of making a comeback?
A Wheeling historical site too many and rich in country music tradition is definitely capable of making a return to the lime light. Vacant for some years now, the big question is to who is willing to purchase this monstrosity building?
The city of Wheeling wants someone local to purchase the venue. OK I don’t know of too many people in the Ohio Valley that have the bank account along with the business know how of operating a major facility like the Capitol.
Live Nation currently has an 850K bid sitting on the table and the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corp., are sitting in their height chairs exploring possibilities of raising the funds. Reality Check – you don’t have the financial capability of what it takes to run the facility and bring it back up to code.
Wheeling’s TIF plan calls for $2.1 million to be used for addressing safety code violations and $400,000 to be used for structural improvements for a total of $2.5 million. Yes, that is a big chunk of change to throw towards the Capitol, but it has been a part of the city since its opening in 1928.
The city needs to know when they have lost the possibility of keeping it within a local ownership and they have lost it. So give Live Nation the funds set aside with the agreement to reopen the facility and get it done.
Then look at the other opportunities that could be done with the facility.
For example, a similar sized facility in Akron is used for dinner theater. The Akron Carousel Dinner Theater has some of the best shows outside of the high cost of New York City’s Broadway district.
Maybe connect with the Columbus Opera House, Cleveland Theater Collective or the Benedum Center for Performing Arts to see what other options you could bring in regards to the theater.
The options are endless.
