The “Save the Palace” group has been having weekly meetings to organize efforts to keep the Palace Theater in Benton from being demolished.
The following is a recap of the first two meetings. The next meeting will be held June 25th at 7:00 p.m. at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Benton (corner of River and Hazel Streets). You can like the “Save the Palace” Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/pages/Save-The-Palace/1446075539027256 For blogs and events related to the historic Palace Theater in Benton, use keyword savethepalace in upper right search blank.
June 13, 2015 – Inaugural Meeting
Meeting was directed by Brian Hamby and Larry Bouche.
Meeting began with the introduction of all those in attendance.
A review of the engineer’s report was conducted and discussed.
There was an agreement to wait on the electing of board members due to many not being able to attend that night.
The second meeting was announced. (6/18/2015)
We do understand that there was not much information included in the minutes of the first meeting. That is because not much took place. The introduction of attendees took up a large majority of the meeting and board members were not yet elected. We are hoping that the second meeting will allow more to take place concerning the efforts of saving the palace. Thank you all for your support. Hope to see you this Thursday!
Also before tomorrows meeting I just wanted to provide you with the mayors statement. After the council voted unanimously to approve the resolution, Mayor Mattingly stated,
“It will take approximately 90 days to go out for bids and finalize all paperwork associated with the selection of a company to raze the old Palace Theater, as recommended by the structural engineer in his report dated August 21, 2014. During that time, anyone who has a valid plan of how they wish to see the Palace utilized, should notify my office or the City Attorney’s office, with blueprints of how they intend to remodel or renovate. Further, any credible plan submitted will be reviewed by the Community Services Committee to ensure compliance with all current city building codes.
I recommended to council a 12-month window be established from the time a plan is submitted and accepted by the Community Services Committee, to completion of the remodel/renovation. An established selling price of the building will be determined by the Community Services Committee and approved by full council. When and if a plan is accepted, we will require a release of liability be executed and the potential new owner will be responsible for any liability issues.”
Our request for a copy of the plans has sent us to an architectural firm, despite the fact it is a city building last used as the library, and they say they have none of the plans, crucial with coming up with the plan stated above. In order to get access to to the building to perform an evaluation, we must provide our own release of liability, this must be approved by the city attorney and the mayor. I can’t imagine the city wouldn’t have a standard release of liability. We will get past these and succeed. But any help will be appreciated. (Just a little humor – the engineers report does not recommended razing the Palace, instead it recommends raising it, but does not specify the needed addition height.)
June 18, 2015 – 2nd Meeting
I wanted to give everyone an update on last week’s meeting and what is in process for this week. The meeting went very well with discussions on the plans for the future use or uses of the Palace in the future. As mentioned previously in a post, they almost all focused on things it can be used for that involve the community. A people place, for recitals, wedding receptions, museum, meeting space, band showcase, and so on. Not for one single use, but flexible enough to do many things.
We got some great information from Vanessa McKuin from the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas on the steps we need to be taking, including the need to form a non-profit corporation to formally engage with the city, be able to receive donations, and once we have rescued the Palace, be the organization that will run it. We are trying to quickly get this done. What we need from you is to join us in this non-profit organization. In order to formally apply with the state for being a non-profit organization, we need at least 3 board members. Currently we have two and in need of a third. If you are afraid this will take a lot of time, I promise to keep things short and sweet and do as many of the discussions online or via email. Please consider stepping forward to help us and the community out. Send us a message or contact us at our email [email protected]
The in process items are:
- We received the FOIA information from the city and are reviewing about 200 pages of information.
- I am meeting with an architect with Black Corley Owens + Hughes to find out what drawings they might have for the Palace.
- I am going to contact both of the engineering firms who did structural reports on the Palace, and try to discover why one says it is in danger of collapse and the other reporting it is structurally sound with a leaking roof.
- Working on filing the Non-Profit Corporation paper work.
- Contacting the Saline County Library to see if they have plans for the building when they occupied it.
- Contacting the city attorney to get the release of liability, so we can gain access to the building and have our own inspection of the building.
Busy time to say the least, but we are up for the challenge, and make sure to mark your calendars for our next meeting.