City still finalizing contract with arts group for use of the Chateau Theatre
More than three months after its proposal won preliminary approval from the Rochester City Council, Threshold Arts says it is moving closer to breathing life back into the now-dormant Chateau Theatre.
The arts group met this week with city staff to continue ironing out the details of a potential contract with the city. While no date has been set for council review, Threshold director Naura Anderson said she anticipates that the contract could come up for consideration as early as May 16.
If approved, Anderson said, the plan would be to then provide “some level of activation” a few weeks after the contract is finalized. This would include inviting community partners in “to share ideas, see the space, and help us finalize design decisions for the most flexible usage,” Anderson said.
The Threshold proposal was selected out of three submissions brought before the council. The group’s plan calls for using the building to host art exhibitions and other events, such as concerts and theater performances.
In approving the Threshold proposal, some members of the council had stressed the urgency of getting the theater activated. The building, located in the Heart of the City, has sat empty for much of the past two years.
In response to questions this week, Deputy City Administrator Aaron Parrish said challenges regarding the timing of activation have centered around potential construction impacts, including bathroom renovations, HVAC upgrades, and work in Peace Plaza later in the summer.
There are also conversations regarding how Threshold might partner with the city’s Community Enrichment Team — made up of civic music, the library, and parks and rec — on future programming, Parrish said.
Threshold, for its part, said it remains committed to working with CET on a regular basis to bring a diverse variety of programs to the Chateau.
However, Anderson said a date for a full opening remains uncertain until a timeline is worked out for the bathroom renovations and other upgrades. In the interim, she expects the opening of the building to happen in phases.
“We do know we can host a variety of events in the space as it sits, and plan to do so as soon as possible,” said Anderson.
Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.
