{"id":2448851,"date":"2019-09-17T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-09-18T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=312983"},"modified":"2019-09-17T21:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-09-18T03:00:00","slug":"city-of-aspen-to-hold-onto-existing-wheeler-opera-house-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/city-of-aspen-to-hold-onto-existing-wheeler-opera-house-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Aspen to hold onto existing Wheeler Opera House funds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.7908045977011\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-312983-334\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/Wheeler-atd-091819-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/Wheeler-atd-091819-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Project manager Christa Gaffigan, the partner in charge of the project Michael Mills and structural engineer Dan Doherty ride in a cart connected to a crane to perform stone mitagation work on the outside of the Wheeler Opera House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The crew is looking at the overall stonework to help with the preservation of the building. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Project manager Christa Gaffigan, the partner in charge of the project Michael Mills and structural engineer Dan Doherty ride in a cart connected to a crane to perform stone mitagation work on the outside of the Wheeler Opera House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The crew is looking at the overall stonework to help with the preservation of the building. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/Wheeler-atd-091819-1.jpg\" alt=\"Project manager Christa Gaffigan, the partner in charge of the project Michael Mills and structural engineer Dan Doherty ride in a cart connected to a crane to perform stone mitagation work on the outside of the Wheeler Opera House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The crew is looking at the overall stonework to help with the preservation of the building. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/Wheeler-atd-091819-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/Wheeler-atd-091819-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Architectural conservator Natalie Feinberg Lopez uses a XRF Spectrometer on the stonework of the Wheeler Opera House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The spectrometer performs an elemental analysis on the stone. Feinberg Lopez is testing areas that she cleaned with seven different cleaners three months ago to see which was most effective and the most gentle. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Architectural conservator Natalie Feinberg Lopez uses a XRF Spectrometer on the stonework of the Wheeler Opera House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The spectrometer performs an elemental analysis on the stone. Feinberg Lopez is testing areas that she cleaned with seven different cleaners three months ago to see which was most effective and the most gentle. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/Wheeler-atd-091819-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural conservator Natalie Feinberg Lopez uses a XRF Spectrometer on the stonework of the Wheeler Opera House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The spectrometer performs an elemental analysis on the stone. Feinberg Lopez is testing areas that she cleaned with seven different cleaners three months ago to see which was most effective and the most gentle. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/city-of-aspen-to-hold-onto-existing-wheeler-opera-house-funds\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/city-of-aspen-to-hold-onto-existing-wheeler-opera-house-funds\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen City Council decided on Tuesday that the roughly $32 million sitting in the Wheeler Opera House coffers should remain there in case it is needed for future support of the historic building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Council agreed with Wheeler Executive Director Gena Buhler\u2019s recommendation to allow outside expert consultants to finish a 20-year facilities master plan to see what it will require to maintain the iconic building in the heart of downtown.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The impetus behind Tuesday\u2019s work session came from the direction of a previous City Council.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\"><a id=\"N0x1a8bba0N0x1acaa30:N0x1a8bba0N0x1bc9b88\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/city-of-aspen-decides-to-keep-its-multi-million-revenue-stream-intact-for-wheeler-opera-house\/\">In 2018<\/a>, that council asked for a feasibility study to see whether Wheeler funds should be used to build a second performance facility on a next-door open space parcel \u2014 as voters intended in the late 1970s when they passed a real estate transfer tax.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">However, city-hired consultants, Theatre Projects and Keen Independent Research, <a id=\"N0x1a8bba0N0x1acaa90:N0x1a8bba0N0x1bc9ca8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/consultants-second-wheeler-facility-not-feasible-on-downtown-aspen-parcel\/\">recently determined<\/a> a second facility is not the best use of that money, or for the continued operation of the Wheeler.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The study was asked for as the council <a id=\"N0x1a8bba0N0x1acaaf0:N0x1a8bba0N0x1bc9dc8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/does-aspen-need-another-performance-facility\/\">in 2018<\/a> was considering repurposing the existing fund, which would require a public vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A conversation among current council members, who were elected this past spring, about repurposing future Wheeler real estate transfer taxes will occur this fall when the facilities master plan is presented.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Based on previous work, current estimates are that it will require $20 million over 20 years to continue operating and maintaining the Wheeler.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">With Councilwomen Ann Mullins and Rachel Richards supporting a more expansive master plan that extends beyond two decades, the existing Wheeler fund would likely be depleted within 30 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It would cost at least $30 million to build a new performing arts facility on an open space parcel next to the Wheeler, in addition to a substantial ongoing annual operational subsidy, according to the consultants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Building a new facility also would put the current operations of the Wheeler at risk in terms of disruption during construction, with a possible lengthy closure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">There are likely utilities under the parcel that would need to be relocated or removed, and the space already is being used for loading and unloading.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis parcel is in use, it\u2019s in use extensively,\u201d Daniel Ordower, general manager of Theatre Projects, told council Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The consultants\u2019 findings in the community show that residents are divided over whether there is a need for another facility within Aspen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Many of the arts leaders and key stakeholders have expressed interest in using a 150- to 200-seat flexible venue if one existed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Recent approvals for the <a id=\"N0x1a8bba0N0x1acac10:N0x1a8bba0N0x1bca3f8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/downtown-aspen-properties-get-go-ahead-for-new-performing-center\/\">JAS Center Red Onion project<\/a> could be that spot once it\u2019s built.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe think that with the commitment to the arts in Aspen \u2026 there is a desire for a venue, but this is not the place to go for it,\u201d Ordower said of the second facility next to the Wheeler.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Wheeler board of directors said they agree with the consultants, and support additional real estate transfer funds being designated toward supporting the established cultural institutions through a larger granting program, or other funding models.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:csackariason@aspentimes.com\">csackariason@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/city-of-aspen-to-hold-onto-existing-wheeler-opera-house-funds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Project manager Christa Gaffigan, the partner in charge of the project Michael Mills and structural engineer Dan Doherty ride in a cart connected to a crane to perform stone mitagation work on the outside of the Wheeler Opera House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The crew is looking at the overall stonework to help with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2448851","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-26 21:07:20","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2448851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448851\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2448851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2448851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2448851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}