YALE DAILY NEWS · TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013 · yaledailynews.com
PAGE 5
NEWS
“There were centuries when civilization had no theater.” ORSON WELLES AMERICAN ACTOR
City sells Shubert Theater to local non-profit BY J.R. REED STAFF REPORTER Following a 12-year stint in the theater industry, New Haven has officially taken its last bow in show business. In a unanimous vote during a public hearing late last Thursday night, the Board of Aldermen struck a deal to transfer the ownership of the Shubert Theater from the city to the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), a nonprofit arts and theater management organization, for a price tag of $1. The city government first took full ownership of the theater 12 years ago, as part of an effort to revitalize one of New Haven’s most historic cultural landmarks. But, due to looming renovation costs, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and the city’s Economic Development Administration concluded that it would be best for the city’s financial health to transfer ownership of the century-old theater. Under the ratified land disposition agreement, the city will pay CAPA a total of $4.5 million over 10 years, including $2.5 million in capital repairs and $2 million in operating support for the theater venue. During that time frame, the city will gradually reduce its annual operating subsidies to the theater, which cost New Haven $250,000 this past year alone, according to the 2012–’13 municipal budget. Furthermore, the agreement requires the city’s approval if CAPA were to ever to sell the building, and the building must continue to serve as a theater, hosting shows for at least 150 nights each year. If CAPA violates any of the requirements of the deal or loses the property, the city is entitled to re-take ownership of the building. Ward 9 Alderwoman Jessica Holmes underscored that, as a result of the ownership transfer, the CAPA can now more easily raise funds from foundations and the private sector to make the much-needed physical renovations. Otherwise, she said, all the funds would have to come directly from the city budget. “CAPA would like to build an endowment for the theater, and
KATHRYN CRANDALL/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
The Board of Aldermen struck a deal to transfer the ownership of the Shubert Theater from the city to the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts last Thursday. that will be easier if the Shubert is independently owned,” Holmes said. “Hopefully they will be able to appeal to donors and develop a [funding] base to make the theater more self sustaining.” According to the theater’s executive director John Fisher, the Shubert has not undergone a major renovation in 30 years and must use $7–$8 million in repairs to bring the venue up to current federal safety codes. Although the city has contributed approximately $300,000 annually to keep the theater running, the Shubert has not been able to afford these much-needed
renovations. In addition to repairing the theater, CAPA administrators have said they intend to build a second performance area, which would accommodate a 100–200-person audience and offer an additional venue for rehearsals, performances, functions, and conferences. With the city no longer responsible for capital improvements, Holmes said this deal provides New Haven with an exit strategy, adding that the city should not be involved in the theater business in the long term. Several aldermen expressed confidence that CAPA will manage the theater’s busi-
ness operation well, as they have directed the venue’s day-to-day operations since 2001. Thanks to the deal, the city no longer holds the burden of operating the business, but can still reap the economic benefits the Shubert provides. According to Fisher, the Shubert brings an estimated $20 million into the city’s economy each year in the form of restaurant meals and parking fees — attracting people to the downtown area and spurring more jobs for the Elm City. Ward 22 Alderwoman Jeanette Morrison said that the ownership transfer is a “win-win for every-
one”, as it allows the city to save money, CAPA to “do what they love” and the city’s many performers — including many Yale students — to continue using the space. “The Shubert will continue to bring revenues into our community — our restaurants and our different hotels,” Morrison said. “We will be able to reap the benefits of the hundreds of thousands, along with the fact that we, as residents, can continue to enjoy a great play in the heart of downtown.” Holmes believes that transferring the ownership to CAPA will also enable the Shubert to expand
their education and training programs for New Haven public school students interested in the arts, including an ongoing relationship with the nearby Co-Op High School. The Shubert opened in New Haven in 1914, acting as a try-out theater for many popular shows that would reach Broadway. Economic hardships forced the theater to shut down in 1976, but it was reopened in 1983 as the centerpiece of a revived downtown entertainment district. Contact J.R. REED at jonathan.t.reed@yale.edu .
Potential for growth in New Haven retail BY SARAH BRULEY CONTRIBUTING REPORTER Last night, urban retail planner Bob Gibbs spoke to a crowd of about 30 New Haveners in The Bourse, a loft on Chapel St. Gibbs, who is also the head of an urban economic planning and consulting business, discussed the ways in which cities can optimize their shopping centers. He shared case studies from cities like Charleston, Southhampton and Columbus in an effort to inspire ideas that can be brought to New Haven. His goal in urban planning, he said, is to revitalize cities’ retail centers by adapting to the residents’ needs. “We think that you should have stores that your commu-
nity needs and desires,” Gibbs said. Gibbs said he thinks the future of retail in New Haven is bright. He predicted that Target could consider opening a store in New Haven within the next five years because New Haven, according to Gibbs, needs another large chain store that sells basic necessities. Gibbs predicted that New Haven would see a 25–30 percent increase in total sales if Target came to the Elm City. Former mayor John DeStefano Jr. attended the talk and agreed with Gibbs’ prediction about New Haven retail. DeStefano said that a store like Target would be a great asset to the Elm City. He added that while New Haven already has Ikea, the fur-
niture store does not hold consumers in the area, unlike an establishment like Target. Lindy Gold, senior specialist in the office of business and industry development at Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development, said that from her experience as a New Haven resident she has noticed that while downtown has plenty of boutiques and specialty shops, it lacks places where residents can buy essentials. “I don’t think anyone can buy anything they actually need downtown,” Gold added. Although DeStefano and Gold agree with Gibbs about Target, unlike Gibbs, DeStefano believes that more of New Haven’s chal-
lenges in terms of retail lie in developing population density, housing development and institutional development. He also expressed interest in generating more activity from the food cart business outside of New Haven’s hospitals. Gibbs also said that as the oldest planned city in North America, New Haven can improve its retail by taking advantage of its authenticity — a selling point which he believes cannot be recreated in newer areas. He stressed that shopping areas that try to imitate the authenticity of an old town often fail. Gibbs discussed other reasons that stores fail, including a lack of consumer visibility. He
noted that many shopping areas underperform because of hidden storefronts, excessive detail around shopping centers (which distracts from storefronts) and poor location of anchor stores. He added that well-known chains attract large numbers of customers to a shopping center. Retailers wishing to compete with shopping malls, Gibbs said, must adapt to the new demographic of consumers. He explained that the average female shopper of the ’80s and ’90s went to the mall at least three times a month as a social occasion, but that today’s women generally do not have time to shop leisurely. In fact, according to Gibbs, 75 percent of shopping is done at night and
on Sundays. “Now, shopping is just another chore,” he said. Gibbs also gave advice to retailers for the upcoming holiday season. He said that a shoplocal campaign around the holidays could be successful, and stores should also consider extending hours and featuring owners in advertisements. He said that stores in the United States traditionally earn 40 percent of their profits between Thanksgiving and Christmas. According to Gibbs, women make up 80 percent of shoppers in the United States. Contact SARAH BRULEY at sarah.bruley@yale.edu .