Image by Trilogy Architecture.
Riverfront Playhouse on Tuesday was given another three years within which to build its downtown home, but the president of the nonprofit community theater company said construction could begin in early 2015.
The spring start date is the best-case scenario, Dan Kupsky said following a 5-0 vote by the Redding City Council, which was sitting as the successor to the former Redding Redevelopment Agency.
The city’s now-defunct redevelopment agency acquired the former Carl’s Automotive building at Pine and Placer streets in 2008 and transferred the $450,000 parcel to Riverfront in March of 2009—with the understanding that a downtown theater would be built within two years. A one-year extension was granted in 2011 and the construction process started in March 2012 when Riverfront was issued a permit to demolish the old Carl’s building.
Factoring in a six-month extension, granted in deference to the withering economy, Assistant City Manager Barry Tippin said Riverfront had until Sept. 21 to complete the theater, and obviously the structure is not going to materialize in three weeks’ time.
In recommending the latest extension, Tippin noted the theater company’s volunteers continue to soldier on despite some design setbacks and the moribund economy. He also noted the recent announcement that Redding Bank of Commerce has committed to lending Riverfront up to $1.2 million.
Besides which, if the city reacquires the property, Tippin said Redding will be required to sell the land for the best price possible and pass along 87 percent of the proceeds to the state of California.
In making a motion to approve the extension, Councilwoman Francie Sullivan expressed optimism the oft-delayed project would be completed. “I think in three years we’ll have a theater and downtown will be better for it,” Sullivan said.
Acknowledging Kupsky and longtime Riverfront supporter Mary Forbes in the audience, Councilwoman Missy McArthur said the downtown theater project “has a lot of great people involved in it” but noted the project has been lingering for the six years she’s been on the council. She suggested the contract return to the council in 18 months “to see if concrete steps are being made.”
Tippin then offered to provide the council with quarterly updates while City Attorney Rick Duvernay noted the resolution does not obligate future councils.
With the extension in hand, and bolstered by Redding Bank of Commerce’s loan commitment, Kupsky said the theater company’s volunteers will ramp up fundraising efforts in the next several weeks with the goal of generating enough money to complete the plans and submit them to the city, along with an application for a building permit.
The 224-seat theater is expected to cost about $2.5 million; to date, Riverfront has raised approximately $750,000 in contributions and pledges. Riverfront Playhouse was established in 1981 and currently operates out of a commercial building at 1620 E. Cypress Ave. Its next production is “Deathtrap” which opens a five-weekend run on Sept. 13.
Jon Lewis is a freelance writer living in Redding. He has more than 30 years experience writing for newspapers and magazines. Contact him at jonpaullewis@gmail.com.
