After a lot of discussion and an epiphany of sorts, The Palace Theatre has received another stay of execution.
The unedited video is below of the Benton Community Services/ Animal Services Committee meeting held Tuesday, June 21, 2016. On the agenda for this special called meeting was just to review the proposals from different parties as to what to do with the property. The City has determined after getting several estimates that the building will cost less to restore (approx. $175K) than it will to demolish (approx. $235K).
Of the three proposals submitted to the City, one was from David Maples, who wants to turn it into to an office building with historical theme; Curtis Ferguson, who wants to it to be a venue for public use; and Friends of the Palace Theatre (a.k.a. Save the Palace) wants it to be public also, but owned by a non-profit and funded by grants.
The epiphany is at 45:10 in the video… after talking about possible buyers, how much the City stands to lose and avoiding the line of using City money for public gain… Steve Lee had an idea.
Previously:
