Edmond again is gauging interest in performing arts center plan

EDMOND — Little interest was shown from the Edmond community during a public meeting held Wednesday night at the University of Central Oklahoma regarding a possible performing arts center.

The city and university entered an agreement last year to begin studying whether the community had an interest in a new center and if it would benefit the community.

About 35 people showed up for the meeting, with most of the crowd having a connection to the university; only eight people did not.

“It would be great to see more people interested in this project,” said Bill Wallo, an Edmond resident and former professor of 42 years at UCO. “However, a study like this has already been done.”

In 1992, a study was completed and a $2.84 million performing arts center was recommended to the Edmond City Council during a special session on July 14 of that year.

The council sent the proposal, which was tied to a sales tax increase, to city voters, only to have it fail by more than a 1,000 votes. The September vote also included multiple other community projects.

The location for the proposed building at that time was at Main and Littler.

A current proposed location and the building size has yet to be determined. But architects with the project asked those in attendance where they would like a possible building.

Many stated that near downtown would be their preferred option.

“Edmond does not have to be a suburb of Oklahoma City anymore,” said Pamela Richman, an adjunct professor in UCO’s School of Music. “It seems like a brilliant idea to put it in the city of Edmond.

What’s next?

During Wednesday’s meeting, architects with the project presented a portion of their research, including Mitchell Hall ticket sales and what other facilities are within a 35-mile radius.

“The purpose of this meeting is for the community to give their input,” said Doug Moss, a partner with Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture.

In November 2016, the city and UCO signed a memorandum of understanding to hire Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture, Hornbeek Blatt Architects and Webb Management Services to conduct research on the proposal.

The firms were tasked with two major questions, including what the upfront cost would be and whether the facility could maintain itself in Edmond and its demand.

If the multiple firms do not find a demand for a performing arts center, then Moss said he will be honest and not recommend one.

The consulting teams will present their findings to the Edmond City Council during a workshop at 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Nov. 27 at the City Council Chambers.

Duncan Webb, with Webb Management, said he is seeing a decline in traditional music halls and seeing an increase in arts districts.

“I am not sure there is a place to put an arts district in Edmond,” said Richard Prawdzienski, a resident of Edmond, who is against a new building being built, citing a possible large cost.

“Performing arts centers are very expensive to build,” Moss said.

He said part of their study would include whether the center could pay for itself.

The performing arts center was identified as a potential future project by the Capital Improvement Advisory Board in 2016.

The board suggested part of the building be paid for by a sales tax extension that was passed in April 2016.

The exact source of funding for the center has not been determined.

The city of Edmond and UCO are evenly splitting the cost of the $170,000 study once it has been completed.

The city is paying for its share out of a half-cent sales tax.