Chapel Hill’s Town Council established a task force in late October to consider the possibility of the Varsity Theatre becoming a community performing art space.
The task force, made up of local business owners, members of the local arts community and town council members Rachel Schaevitz and Michael Parker, will report back in six months after considering community feedback and the project’s feasibility.
The current tenant and operators of the theater, Paul and Susan Shareshian, will sit on the task force. In a Facebook post on the theater’s page, the Shareshians responded to “rumors” regarding the theater’s future, saying they wanted to “set the record straight” that the Varsity Theatre is not for sale.
“While we are in agreement with the town’s initiative to have a public performing arts space, we think we have already established the Varsity Theatre to do just that,” the October 28 post reads. “I welcome the opportunity to serve on the task force, which Councilman Michael Parker invited to me to join, to provide further education on what the Varsity Theatre is currently doing.”
Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger spoke about the task force on WCHL’s the Aaron Keck show last week.
“We need to know from our side, from a community side, whether that’s something we want to spend our energy doing,” she said. “So we will investigate that for six months and figure out fit here are other models out there that look good for us out there and if it’s an interest or if there’s some other thing that might be better.”
Town officials hope the project could attract more people downtown, and revitalize the East End of Franklin Street. Hemminger said the town takes its time on these kinds of things, gathering many different perspectives in hopes to get it right.
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Well, the “town” just voted another huge debt to build housing for low income families. How about using some of that $10M to renovate the old theater into smaller “condo like” apartments. right in town, available transportation, near churches, and other charitable donation type of organizations, AND right near the university to make it easier for such neighbors to try for new skills and learning? Perhaps it could even have a little dent on the homeless who stroll through our main streets pan-handling for funds. A “Performing Arts” place? Why not use the universities and/or high schools or the old CH library for free; after all little to no tax dollars are paid to the town from these venues.
Actually, our nonprofit arts organizations in Orange County generate $5.7 million in revenue for our local government every year through taxes and fees, and another $7M for the state. A performing arts space on Franklin would generate revenue for neighboring business (restaurants, etc..) and the town (parking, etc…) and help preserve the character of what was once one of the most vibrant live music scenes in the state. Not to say that affordable housing isn’t greatly needed….