Threshold Arts chosen as the next operator of the Chateau
Threshold Arts has been selected as the next operator of the Chateau.
The Rochester City Council voted 5-2 on Wednesday to begin drawing up a three-year agreement with the arts group for use of the theater, which has sat empty since Exhibits Development Group left last year.
Threshold’s proposal calls for keeping the building open regularly with art exhibitions and retail. It also plans to collaborate with other community groups to put on events, such as concerts and theater performances.
Threshold is asking for $106,000 in city funding for furniture, fixtures, and other equipment — all of which would stay with the Chateau. Its interim activation plan was chosen out of three proposals brought before the council, including one from a cohort of city department leaders.
In supporting the Threshold proposal, Council President Brooke Carlson pointed to Threshold’s willingness to bring in the city group — known as the Community Enrichment Team — as a key factor in her decision.
“I have had the opportunity to witness some of Threshold’s innovation and creativity and support of a collaborative environment for artists in our community,” said Carlson. “And I think their work to intentionally bring in the CET as part of their advisory board — giving three spots to each of the departments (library, parks, and music) — really shows they are committed to the community vision for this.”
Carlson was joined by councilors Mark Bransford, Nick Campion, Molly Dennis, and Patrick Keane in supporting the Threshold proposal. Councilors Shaun Palmer and Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick voted nay.
Prior to the vote, there was discussion among council members about ongoing legal entanglements involving Threshold and its former landlord, Castle Community. The latter has been charged with being in breach of its contract with the city for allowing a church to lease space designated for arts. Both are facing a lawsuit from the owners of Cameo restaurant.
Kirkpatrick, who represents the downtown area, told her colleagues it would be premature to make any decision regarding Threshold and the Chateau until the ongoing legal issues have been addressed.
“How is this situation going to be resolved? Whether or not Threshold Arts should return to the Castle community, I think it is imprudent for us to vote on activating a city space when there are so many legal situations around this. It does not seem smart,” said Kirkpatrick.
Deputy City Administrator Aaron Parrish, however, encouraged the council not to let the Castle developments “overly influence” its decision regarding the Chateau — and instead judge the Threshold proposal on its merits.
Parrish noted that because Threshold is not part of the Castle ownership group, contract issues with the city were not taken into consideration when administration made the Chateau recommendation.
With regards to the Cameo lawsuit, Councilors Campion and Keane said they were uncomfortable with the idea of “subjective” litigation influencing the council’s decision regarding the Chateau.
Keane also stressed an urgency to get the Chateau back open. The theater is the anchor for the new $17 million Heart of the City/Peace Plaza project, which the city hopes to begin activating this spring.
“With us doing nothing, we are just making the decision to leave the Chateau sit open again and I don’t want to see that happen,” he said.
While the council only received interim use proposals during the latest RFP process, several council members used Wednesday’s discussion to implore the city to start working on a long-term renovation plan, such as the one considered by the Chateau Re-use Task Force back in 2016.
Councilor Palmer cited the lack of a long-term strategy — not the Castle drama — in his decision not to support Threshold’s interim proposal.
“We are doing a three-year deal, which literally would mean that for 10 years we will have done something temporary with the space,” said Palmer, who supported the city-led proposal.
Responding to council feedback, Parrish said the city could include language in the agreement with Threshold regarding the potential for an early termination if the city adopts a new plan for the Chateau.
He also noted that if the council wants to pursue a long-term vision for the theater, it needs to find consensus about what that may look like.
“I think you also need to execute and articulate what your policy vision is for the long-term reuse of the Chateau and what level of investment you want to see,” said Parrish.
If the council opts to move in that direction, Parrish said he believes there would be funding opportunities available through Destination Medical Center and historic tax credits. Any plan involving a major renovation, however, would likely take several years to come together, he said.
Carlson said she supports the idea of pursuing a long-term vision for the Chateau — with Threshold’s use informing some of those decisions.
“I really think, and I have said this before, that Threshold will help us understand more about what that space can be used for,” she said.
Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated the council meeting was held on Monday. It was held on Wednesday, Jan. 19 due to the MLK Jr. holiday.
