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Assemblyman Supports Downtown Theate Site
Assemblyman Supports Downtown Theater Site
Rachel Barnhart
Email: rbarnhart@13wham.com
Assembleyman Morelle Supports Downtown PAC
(Rochester, N.Y.)
As the Rochester Broadway Theatre League decides where to build a performing arts center, a state lawmaker said it should be built downtown. Assemblyman Joseph Morelle said if the project requires state funds and state funds can be obtained, the money should go to a performing arts
center downtown.
Its necessary to the revitalization of downtown its appropriate that it be downtown. Most of our cultural amenities are downtown, so thats where I think state money should be spent, if we can even raise state money and if state money is necessary, Morelle said.
Five suburban communities and the city are vying for the proposed theater. RBTL wants a new venue, saying the Auditorium is outdated and too costly to renovate.
RBTL Chairman Arnold Rothschild said its too early to say if state funds will be needed.
"There may be proposals that don't require state money," he said.
One of the proposed theater sites ö Medley Centre - is in Morelle's district.
"Medley Centre is a wonderful facility, potentially. There's a lot of work that has to be done. We've not seen a lot of progress on it yet," Morelle said.
Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy has proposed a theater be built at Midtown Plaza, but has yet to announce a development partner for the project. Last week, the mayor said he was working with a developer on renderings.
RBTL and the city agree that building a theater downtown would be more expensive, but they have not determined how much a facility would cost.
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