Arts supporters turn out to boost proposed performing arts venue

It's July 29. Arts supporters show at James City meeting to support venue. County supervisors take steps to raise tax exemption for lower income seniors. Recyclers to keep existing vendor.

From left: Concept drawings of proposed venue, how it would appear from adjacent sports center, and interior auditorium. (ClarkNexsen photos)

More than two dozen supporters of the arts turned out to the James City County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday cheering the proposed $83.1 million performing arts venue. But the supervisors made clear they weren’t making any decisions yet.

The sales pitch for the proposed center, which would be located adjacent to the newly opened Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center, is that it could bring millions in revenue to the area from spectators who come and stay one or more nights in local hotels.

The proposed facility would include a 68,000 square foot indoor performance center and a 90,000 square foot outdoor amphitheater.

County Administrator Scott Stevens, who is also chair of the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities agency that would own the center, told Williamsburg Watch the agency would probably wait to see how well the events center performs in bringing in promised tourist dollars over the next few years.

“A decision has not been made by James City County,” Board Chair John J. McGlennon said after the supervisors saw a presentation for the facility.“ The process…would involve the opportunity for public input.”

McGlennon said he expected the city of Williamsburg, which has been an early champion of the project, would take the lead in figuring out how to pay for the facility, whose cost is estimated at $83.1 million. The city paid $5 million for the initial design work for the center.

Stevens said there has been no recommendation on how the facility would be paid for. He said Williamsburg City Council would hear a presentation in August, followed by York County in September.

“There’s no timeline for making a decision” on the center, Stevens said.

Vice Chair Ruth Larson asked if local arts supporters might be willing to donate towards the facility’s cost.

“They are very passionate about this and they are ready and committed to going out to raise money for this,” replied Rick Hibbett, a representative for Clark Nexsen, the architectural design firm who walked the supervisors through the concept.

Local arts patrons formed a nonprofit group, Advocates for Live Performance Venue, to boost support for the new center.

They say the Williamsburg region boasts a robust arts scene – including two symphonies, a ballet and opera – that have no permanent home large enough to profitably stage performances.

A consultant hired by Visit Williamsburg, the region’s tourism marketing arm, estimated the venue could generate from $17.9 million to $53 million in local revenue by hosting multi-day music festivals and events that draw people from out of town.

“Think blues and jazz festivals and other festivals,” we were told earlier by Richard Overy, a financial advisor who is a member of the advocacy group.

Williamsburg, James City and York Counties would see about $1.5 million in annual tax revenue from food, sales and lodging taxes, according to Victus, the consultant.