New designs for those looking to restore the theatre include a proposed hydraulic floor and cutting a large window into the wall behind the stage for additional natural light should the theatre be turned into a hall for receptions.
Plans have honed in on an entertainment-and-education complex with a goal of not only restoring the theatre’s historical significance, but breathing new life and purpose into it.
Another proposal includes saving some of the historic fixtures in the theatre and incorporating them into the wall of the open-air plan; a hat tip of sorts to history past.
The crux of the open-air plan and the restoration plan both need financing.
The open-air venue has offered numbers between $400,000 and $600,000 depending on bathroom amenities.
The rough estimation on restoring the theatre has started at $750,000 up to $2 million.
Theatre owner Matt Prescott paid $100,000 for the building in May 2007. While the property is still assessed at $100,000, Prescott has mentioned an asking price of $250,000.
Earlier this week a potential investor toured the theatre.
“Too much history to destroy” was the primary comment.
Stay tuned for exclusive details at http://www.washingtoncountyinsider.com
Funny the owner is only paying taxes on 100,000.00 but is asking 250000.00 can I get that same deal !
$250,000 would not come close to covering the investment Matt Prescott has put into purchasing, stabilizing and general overhead for the nearly five years that his company has owned the property. As reported here and elsewhere, his intentions were not to profit from, but to preserve the building until others stepped up to the plate to take the next step. We as a community at the very least owe him our gratitude for his continued patience.
If you improve your property then your assessment goes up and you pay more property taxes I know I do everytime I improve mine,I don’t care what anybody’s intentions are ,maybe you think he deserves special treatment I don’t, if you feel that way help him pay his fair share like everyone else living in West bend is required to do,but I’m not expecting any special treatment and I pay my fair share maybe you would like to help me and thousands of other West bend taxpayers pay our tax bills or is that excuse just for you friends !