HOW I SEE IT: Let’s continue to invest in downtown
Published: November 16, 2009
Updated: November 16, 2009
Part 1 of 2. See Tuesday’s paper for the final installment.
I am writing in response to all the negative press the State Theatre has been receiving in the paper as of late. However, I would like to take a trip down memory lane first…
I am sure many people remember downtown Culpeper of the late 1980s/early 1990s when the primary items for sale were drugs, prostitution and poorly maintained buildings.
I’ve lived in the Culpeper area (both county and town) since the early 1990s, and back then downtown Culpeper had very little to offer, so I traveled to Fredericksburg and other locations to get the things I needed most for daily living. And when I wanted to go to a movie, dinner or the theater, again, I traveled elsewhere.
Given many of the Culpeper residents traveled outside the county for their employment, most of the residents’ incomes were also spent outside the county, thereby leaving the town and county coffers dry. I ask myself, what sort of revenue did the town have at that time?
It took the courage and vision of a few entrepreneurs to bring various businesses to the historic district as well as the persistence of Culpeper Renaissance within the Main Street program to make changes to the downtown and bring not only locals but visitors out to eat and shop. It also took the vision and talent of some well known, longtime residents of Culpeper to beautify our landscape to entice new ventures into the downtown district.
Since then, many new businesses have opened in the downtown, not only bringing locals and visitors to shop and eat, but to attend local events like the Taste of Culpeper, the Third Thursday concerts, etc. Not only have these events contributed to what we are today, a destination, but the State Theatre is just the next level of making Culpeper an even better destination.
Many small Virginia downtowns are dying because they do not have the support of their town the way Culpeper does. People travel to Virginia from all over the United States and the world for many different reasons, and one of those reasons is our beauty and the flavor of our thriving downtowns. What will happen to us if we don’t have these visitors because we have nothing to draw them in and keep them coming?
The State Theatre (which, by the way, is nonprofit), has asked the town to show its support by backing a bond for $1.5 million. I cannot think of a better way to continue to put Culpeper on the destination map! As most of the funds for the renovation of the theater are private, I think that money from the town shows the town’s commitment and investment to the project and to the success of the town as well.
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If I remember back when downtown was so run down, that much of the renovation and upgrade was paid through a special tax district. That was extra real estate taxes paid by the downtown property owners, who saw value in paying and extra tax that would translate into increased property values and business. So why don’t the downtown merchants who say they want this project foot the bill and start another tax district to include downtown businesses. That way they pay for the benefit of the so-called business generated by the state theater and the general taxpayer doesn’t have to foot the $1.5 million bill. The answer is simple. Those downtown businesses and property owners don’t like the state theater plan that much. This plan is a raid on the town treasury and a request for a donation with no plan to repay. It’s a bad idea in a bad economy.
Ms. Ast makes very good arguments in favor of Town taxpayer support for the State Theater. However, one issue that has been unclear or changeable in all accounts of the matter is whether the Town’s “investment” is proposed to be: a) an outright contribution of cash; b) as a co-signer of a State Theater-issued bond; c) a Town-issued municipal revenue bond; d) a Town-issued “good faith” bond; or e} as cosigner on a bank loan. A Town-issued Municipal Revenue Bond might make sense if there is strong evidence that the Theater will produce a $4/$1 (or more)payback.
The business case needs to be made to the taxpayers.
I completely agree with Igottagetalife. It appears the ones who support the Theatre the most are the business owners on Davis Street. If they are not already doing so maybe these folks should pool their money together for a “large” donation to the cause.
I see the State Theatre in the same light as other programs that will enhance our life styles and certainly has the potential to add to the Culpeper coffers. But the enthusiasm and money could really be better used else where. We just don’t have the money available considering the other non-profit organizations that could benefite from $1,500,000.00. SAFE, Library, Culpeper Clinic, Red Cross, Food bank, etc.
The etc. is more than I can shake a stick at. What guarantee is there that the theatre once a very nice building won’t simply return to what it was 23 years ago? Please look at putting the money somewhere else that may actually need the money.
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