Memo CBD Performing Arts Facility
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. C IT Y o F HOP KIN S
M E MORA N DUM
DATE: ,August 13, 1993
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jim Kerrigan, Director of Planning & Economic Devel.
SUBJECT: CBD PERFORMING ARTS FACILITY
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I. PURPOSE:
The purpose of this document and our discussion on August 17
is basically as follows:
1. Provide general background information on this project
2. Summarize the information prepared by Vedi and
Associates'
. 3. Provide possible alternative actions for the City
Council to consider as relates to the project.
II. BACKGROUND
In the fall of 1991 Child's Play Theatre approached the city
requesting assistance in finding them new space in order to
retain their operation within the City of Hopkins. In
January, 1992 a motion ~as passed endorsing the concept of
an entertainment complex in downtown Hopkins which would
inclUde Child's Play Theatre as a tenant. Since that time
staff and the Council have met a number of times to discuss
, this matter in greater detail.
Over time, a variety of alternatives have been explored as
relates to this issue. These include the following:
0 Undertaking improvements at Eisenhower in order to
better meet the needs of Child's Play Theatre
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0 Constructing a free standing performing arts facility
0 Undertaking an entertainment complex project including
. a performing art~ facility.
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Honorable Mayor and city Council
Page 2
As a part of upgrading the Eisenhower facility, the -.
following improvements appeared necessary:
0 Construction of additional parking area.
0 Air conditioning of the theater
0 Various stage improvements
Even with these improvements Child's Play Theatre has stated
they would still have concerns with remaining at Eisenhower
because of conflicts with scheduling and other issues. They
feel that they need better control ,of this space in order to
make it a workable situation.
A second alternative of a free standing performing arts
facility was considered-after it appeared that the Suburban
Chevrolet site might not become available. Although a
I number of sites were discussed, the one which the staff
identified as appearing most feasible was the property which
is located directly east of th~ Rudy Luther body shop
located at the corner of Mainstreet and Eighth Avenue.
In December of 1992 a detailed report, which had been
prepared by City staff and Art Space Inc.-concerning a free
standing performing arts facility, was presented to the city .
Council. Following a public hearing the Council decided in
January, 1993 to not construct such a facility but rather
directed staff to continue to work towards the possibility
of building a performing arts facility in conjunction with
an entertainment complex project on the Suburban Chevrolet
property.
Since January the following has been undertaken as relates
to this project:
0 An option agreement has been executed with the owners
of the Suburban Chevrolet property. This agreement
requires that if the HRA wishes to purchase this site
it must be completed by March 15, 1994.
0 Staff has been working with Copeland Mithun and legal
counsel to prepare a development agreement for the
theater/restaurant portion of the project.
0 Staff has been working with Child's Play Theatre in an
effort to prepare a lease agreement for use of the
performing arts facility.
0 Hired Vedi and Associates to undertake an analysis
relating to size and cost considerations for .
constructing a performing arts facility.
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Honorable Mayor and City Council
Page 3 '
. III. SUMMARY OF VEDI AND ASSOCIATES ANALYSIS
Vedi and Associates was hired to explore the following as
relates to the potential construction of a performing arts
facility onthe'Suburban Chevrolet property.
o Prepare various layout/design alternatives
o Define costs for construction of such a facility
o Refine size requirements and needs
In conjunction with this effort, Mr. Vedi has utilized the
services of Mr. Ralph Rapson, a local architect, who has
expertise in designing performing arts facilities.
Attached is a copy of the report as prepared by Mr. Vedi.
Three site plan alternatives are detailed in the report:
o Scheme G involves constructing the entire facility at
grade leve,l.
o Scheme H involves constructing the entire performing
arts facility at grade on the northerly parcel with the
theater and restaurant south of Mainstreet.
4It. 0 Scheme J involves constructing a portion of the
facility above and below grade. This. alternative would
allow for adding some additional community space to the
building. '
In addition to these 3 design plans, Vedi has also provided
in his report 6 other variations of these three design plans
along with their construction costs.
IV. SIZE MANAGEMENT. AND COST ALTERNATIVES
o Size
The size of the facility is specifically related to the
intended use and tenant occupancy. The alternatives
which are available based On previous discussions," and '
the analysis by Vedi and Associates, include the
following:
- An approximate 19,700 square foot performing arts
facility which would accommodate the needs of
Child's Play Theatre.
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Honorable Mayor and City Council
Page 4
- An approximate 24,000 square foot performing arts .
facility which could accommodate the needs of both
Childfs Play Theatre and Minnetonka Dance Theater.
- A structure to accommodate one or both of the
above uses and also general public user space.
0 Management
There are several management alternatives available
which include the following:
- Execute a master lease with Child's Play Theatre.
Under this agreement they would manage and
maintain the facility. They would be responsible
for all operating costs associated with the
facility.
- City contracts with outside management agency.
I Revenues generated from the use of this facility
would be used to pay the additional cost of the
management group.
- Formation of a non-profit arts board or committee.
This group could either be completely separate
from the City or advisory to the City Council. .
- Managed by City staff. This alternative may
require the hiring of additional personnel.
0 Capital Cost .. F' "
Finally, as relates toitfie capital cost of construction
of the facility, the following alternatives are
available:
- Pay for ail .,6f'tbe. construction costs utilizing
available tax.. increment funds or perhaps undertake
a referendum. Under this alternative it would be
assumed that if c.p.T.e. and Minnetonka Dance were
major tenants they would provide up-front funding
for s.ome ot,;:the interior improvements.
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- "City agrees'to provide funding for a portion of a
facility utilizing TIF or by successfully
undertaking a referendum. Under this scenario it
.. would be assumed that Child f s. Play Theatre (if
they were to be a tenant in .the facility), an Arts
Board, other civic groups, or a combination of
these groups would undertake a fund raising effort
to s~cure the remaining funds necessary to build
the facility ~ " - .
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Honorable Mayor and city Council
Page 5
." V. ISSUES TO' CONS7DER
Upon analyzing this project the following issues should be
considered:
o The public support for a facility ,of this type. .In
January of this year the city Council held a public
hearing on a freestanding performing arts facility.
However, there has been no in-depth analysis as relates
to community support.
o The capital costs for constructing a facility of this
type if the city were to fund the facility entirely.
Such an expenditure would utilize a large amount of the
available tax increment dollars in the downtown. This
could affect the availability of funding for future
projects in this area. As an alternative the City
could consider undertaking a referendum for all or part
of the cost. .
o Market, interest in the use of such facility~ Art Space ,"
Inc. looked at this aspect on a preliminary basis as
part of their earlier analysis. However, there has
been no in depth study to determine alternative users
for either the performing art space or any general
.. pur~6~e space that might be constructed within the
. fac111ty.
o Long term maintenance and operation costs. Childrs
Play Theatre has stated that if they executed a master
lease with the city they would be willing to:-'assume the
liability of paying all 'operating costs Of the
facility.' This is ba~~~:on 'the assumptio~that
operating costs will be'around $6 per square foot, with
a maximum of approximately $124,000 (this total figure
is based on C.P.T. r,?ceivi:pg$24,000 a year in'
additional rental income'~rom MinnetonkaDanCe)~ If
operating or maintenance costs exceeded this amount
C.P.T. mayor may not have the.capability to absorb
this ao.ditional CQst~ ,.}
Also, it needs to be noted 'that if a master lease was
not executed with C.P.T.C.,the task of ensuring there
was sUfficiEmt income to pay for. all operating costs
would be the responsibility of the managing entity. In
either case, if the city 'owned the facility and there
was a shortfall in revenues to pay ,operating costs, the
City would need to provide'additional funds to make up
this gap. ," ',.
o Child' s Play Theatre -', has: stat~q that they need to be in
. a new facility by the endof'1994.' If action is
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Honorable Mayor and city council
Page 6
undertaken which would prevent meeting this time .'
schedule they may no longer be interested in being a -.
part of this facility. ~
VI. ALTERNATIVES FOR CONSIDERATION
What follows are possible alternatives which hopefully will
stimulate discussion as to how the City Council may wish to
proceed on this issue.
1. continue with previous/current process. This alternative is
based on the following assumptions:
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o ApproJ{,imate $j:ze_'::b;f "facility - Approximately 19,700
square ,.f.eet""with~,C'';'P'.T~ as primary tenant or
approximately 24,000 square feet if M.D.T.S. were
included. " ~-
I 0 Approximate cost of facility - $ 2,471,000 to
$2,791,000. AsSumes city pays all construction costs.
C.P.T. and M.D.T.S. to contribute $450,000 towards
construction costs.
o Ownership of facility -c~ty
o Management of facility-C~P.T. would be responsible ~
for day to day management, bookings, etc. M.D.T.S.
would sublease from C.P.T.
o '~":"'. :;
, 0:-;' 'Operating costs ~-:_C~P;.T.~,,~-"responsible for all operating
costs."" :If C.P.T. defatalt:scity may have exposure to
operating costs if facility could not be re-Ieased.
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2. contiri~e with prevtous/~tirrent ~rocess (same as above) with
.modifTcations' maa.:e-,::to': lIlanagement: xesponsibili ties. This
alternat;ive~, utilizes tne.':following assumptions:
" ".0, :.:"'App;-oximatesize 9f~<,~acili~ - Same as Alt. #1
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,-~. ::':~o f'Approximate cost ,!:(),f',ffacility -: Same as Alt. #1.
Assumes city pays all costs. C.P.T. and M.D.T.S. to
contribute $450,000.
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,t~" "'0 ownership of faci,11 ty ~ City
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o Management of facility - City creates Arts Board or
_.' similar entity'whi;P-h .then manages facility. Arts Board
: would ,be resgonsibtE!' ~or.Aay:to day activities,
:' . __ . bqokings" ;et'C. ':.C.)?,i'lT .<~,:ejnd~M. D. T. S. would lease
facility from city through .Arts Board..
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Honorable Mayor and City council
Page 7
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~~_.-. '. 0 Operati11lJ: costs - CoPoTo and M.D.T.S. would contribute
towards'operating costs as a part of a lease agreement.
However, the Arts Board may need to book facility for
other periods to insure all operating costs are met.
City may have exposure to operating costs if CoP.T. or
MoD.T.S. default, or if Arts Board is not successful in
booking the facility to other users. '
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3. City constructs multi-use facility for c01f..r-~.1nity use .
including CoPoT. and M.O.ToS. This alternative utilizes the
following ~assumptions:_.
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o Approximate size of -facility - 33,000 to 48,000 square
feet. This would provide ~9r~approxim~Fely 9,000 to
24,000 square feet ,of-gen:eral.c~mmunity space.
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o Approximate cost~$ 3,330,000 to $4,5~0,000. Assumes
City pays all construction costs. C ~ r'.T . and MoD. T. S .
to contribute $450,000 towards construction costs.
o Ownership of facility - :City
o Management.. of facility- - city creates Arts Board to
oversee facility, :.hbokings', , etc. of entire building.
. 0 Operating cost respbnsi~~llty - Sam~::as Alt. #2
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40 city adjusts previous/current process with modifications
relating to City costpartit:-ipation ,'. design),), CU"!d-management.
This alternative utilizes: j:be...::.followJ.ng apsumptions:
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o city forms Arts Board which gathers information to
determine arts ne~ds in community and provides
assistance with-d-esi~nof ;;r~Gil.i-ty:~ Arts,Bj)ar-d, also
responsible forfimtl~a.4S'in9:~ eefo.~sc' for, ~1S~ruct.:;~on of
facility as well as.o:eV.erit1$tl''. man(\,geJq~nt ..)'cL:~~;il:-: .;, ;
o Approximate size -,~f..."f.ac:ility :?:-tDeRe.n.ds -, sO!Il~what on _
recommendations of Arts Board. Based on Alternative #3
the facility may he in ~fig.c:,:tl~,,33~Q~ i',':,4_8"000 square
feet.... .., .,,~; ::' : 8'; ; ;, -,. .,' .:;~~\~<,.,:L,
o Approximate cost of facility ~. Again, depends on size
of facility. using' ,Alte,rnati.ve; #3 ca..p,i~al:\ cost could
range from approximately $3.3 million to $405 million.
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o This alternati \7e;assumes ith'e~Ci=ty -only partially
contributes tothe;:coat cjf ~the.,'f:acility with' Arts Board
responsible for J:aisrimg ~hther f.tlnCl,s.~;:A~sUIl\es. C.P.T.
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Honorable Mayor ah.1,city Councl.l
Page 8
and M.D.T.S. to contribute $450,000 towards ..~
construction costs.
0 ownership of facility ~ City or non-profit
organization.
0 Management of facilityu"," Arts Board or other non-profit
organization.
0 operating costs responsibility - Management group as
identified. As in other alternatives the City may have
exposure to pay some operating costs.
5. step baqk and,reassess sItuation or discontinue actions on
undertaking P.A.F~; Qther, ~hart discontinuation of action
altogether this altetnat1v~ assumes:
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0 Through an Arts Board or other efforts the city
assesses the needs and interests of the community
regarding the arts and a possible community facility.
0 If it is decided tp p~9ceed, Arts Board undertakes
fundraising efforts for facility. City mayor may not
participate. e'
0 Assume~ t:.P.T. drM.D.T'~S"~ would be tenants of
fas:tlity.
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0 Issues relating to cost af facility, ownership,
martagemefit would need' to be addressed.
JKOa093B
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