Mohawk Theatre Aims for Financial Sustainibility with the $1.8 Million First Phase of Scaled Back Renovation Project
“I think of this as one of the finishing touches to the downtown, a very important component — a link to our past and a very important part of our future”-North Adams Mayor John Barrett, III
The city bought the Mohawk for $65,000 in 1993, part of the deal that allowed Wal-Mart to locate on Curran Highway. The current $6 million to $7 million project has been on the books since last year, when a more extensive plan that would have cost more than $10 million was scaled back to bring the project into a more affordable status.
“It just didn’t make sense with the dollars that were going to be involved in it,” Barrett said.”We’re doing it as we get the money and hopefully we’ll get some historic tax credits to give us a few extra dollars. We don’t want any debt associated with it and we don’t want to have major fundraisers every year to sustain it. We want it to stand on its own.”
Barrett said the next phase will begin when more money has been secured. He estimates it could take five years to finish.
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Revamp opens at Mohawk
This first phase will cost $1.8 million and use up the cash that has been raised so far, according to Mayor John Barrett III. Part of the first phase will be the demolition of two vacant buildings on Eagle Street that back up to the rear of the theater and will provide additional access.
The city bought the Mohawk for $65,000 in 1993, part of the deal that allowed Wal-Mart to locate on Curran Highway. The current $6 million to $7 million project has been on the books since last year, when a more extensive plan that would have cost more than $10 million was scaled back to bring the project into a more affordable status.
“It just didn’t make sense with the dollars that were going to be involved in it,” Barrett said. “We’re doing it as we get the money and hopefully we’ll get some historic tax credits to give us a few extra dollars. We don’t want any debt associated with it and we don’t want to have major fundraisers every year to sustain it. We want it to stand on its own.”
Barrett said the next phase will begin when more money has been secured. He estimates it could take five years to finish.
Once finished, the 1938 E.M. Lowe art deco theater will seat roughly 980 people and be used as a venue for concerts, local productions, college and
high school plays, film festivals, digital-feed concerts, weddings, community meetings and business conferences.
The initial plan has Mass MoCA programing the theater, providing staff, and sharing the income with the city, Barrett said.
“That would be an ideal marriage,” he added. “They would use it to make money and at the same time make us money.”
Once the renovation is complete, he hopes to have a maintenance fund of $200,000 to $300,000 to cover ongoing repairs over the long term.
The city is in talks with Scarafoni Associates to use the back of an adjacent building, which now houses the North Adams Artists Coop art gallery, as back-stage green rooms and dressing rooms for the theater, he said.
Barrett said the demolition of the two Eagle Street structures will cost about $35,000 and will make way for a walkway and alternate entrance and exit for the theater.
Facing the theater, the store front to the right of the entrance will remain Moulton’s Spectacle Shop. The store front to the left of the entrance will be converted into box office space.
A new round of fundraising will begin soon, in addition to seeking government grants and tax credits.
“If we get lucky, we’ll be able to do perhaps another three-quarters of $1 million next year, if we can raise the money,” Barrett said.
Once the first phase is complete, the next phase will be to start on the interior, he said.
“I think of this as one of the finishing touches to the downtown, a very important component — a link to our past and a very important part of our future,” Barrett said. “And I’d like to get it done before I leave and ride off into the sunset.”
To reach Scott Stafford: sstafford@berkshireeagle.com, or (413) 664-4995.
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