CULVER — Members of the non-profit entity working on a project to renovate the old theatre building in downtown Culver held a
work session with the Culver Town Council on Thursday night.
Those involved with the creation of the Maxincuckee Performing Arts Theatre outlined their work and plans to date, seeking the input and support of the council moving forward.
The main issue at hand was the need for the theatre building to have a bigger “footprint” in the downtown. Representatives have been working with neighbors of the theatre building, namely the Fire Department and condominiums situated directly behind the building, finding what will be an acceptable growth of the building.
Members of the performing arts project told the Council that while the exact numbers are not set in stone, the belief is that the current structure is not wide enough or tall enough to be successful as a performing arts venue. The group said that the building would need to be 40 feet wide and 30 feet tall to be used to its optimal capacity.
Condominium owners had concerns about the shared parking lot, and the Fire Department about the ability to enter and leave their building as well as pull equipment out for maintenance. The town also had concerns about the effect on pedestrian traffic flow, particularly in the summer when the area is more congested.
The group told the Council that ownership of the property had been transferred to the non-profit, as they continue to put together studies and paperwork in preparation for applying for a Readi 2.0 grant.
The Council will vote on a resolution regarding a letter of intent to continue to work with the group on the performing arts center.
