LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council gave conceptual support on Tuesday to adjusting the boundaries of city-held right-of-way alongside the Soper Reese Theatre in order to allow for the building's renovations to continue.
The theater is located at 275 S. Main Street. The council voted unanimously to direct city staff to work with the theater to find a way to readjust the right-of-way line to the south building, along Martin Street.
As part of the discussion, theater Executive Director Mike Adams officially introduced a new architectural rendering of the building that shows it in its final form, a magnificent art deco-style building with an ornate marquee and area for an outdoor stage.
“This is the rollout of this conceptual design,” Adams said.
City Manager Margaret Silveira told the council that the need to cut into the right-of-way arose as the theater's board was planning for coming renovations and upgrades, specifically a new ramp and bathrooms along the building's south side to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Adams explained that the theater board put together a business plan in 2006 and went about raising money.
To date, they've raised $1.4 million for renovations, a figure which Adams reported doesn't include the $300,000 Jim and Florence Soper donated to purchase the building.
The $1.4 million figure includes more than $643,000 from Jim and Florence Soper; $200,000 from the city, a 20-year loan that will be forgiven if the theater continues to operate; $250,000 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, secured by Congressman Mike Thompson; $45,000 from the county of Lake; and $562,755 from individuals, organizations and businesses, Adams reported.
Regarding the city's contribution, Adams said it showed a lot of trust. “We have taken that very seriously in how we've tried to be stewards of this project.”
Expenditures to date total $1,150,000. Projects completed with those funds include the purchase and installation of a state-of-the-art sound system; purchase of a portable stage and audience seating; restored loge seating; the addition of new backstage dressing rooms and restrooms; the purchase and installation of a new video projector and movie screen; the construction of a piano garage to house the Lake County Symphony’s piano; installation of new HVAC and electrical systems; reroofing the building; reconfiguring and installing new exit doors; waterproofed and poured new stepped floor; construction of a new stage; installation of a building fire sprinkler system; patching and painting of the building's interior; conversion of the projection booth into a lighting booth; installation of the new theatrical lighting system; the development of operations and marketing plans; and implementation of policies to insure financial stability.
Adams said the theater has a reserve of $73,000, about one and a half times the facility's annual upkeep, plus a fund balance of $250,000.
The new projects ahead are comprehensive and visionary, and part of a longterm plan broken into seven phases to expand the theater, which Adams said can seat 300 people.
The first phase is the ADA restrooms and ramp, estimated to cost $150,000, he said.
The theater, built in 1947, has a lobby and restrooms that need upgrading, but those aspects of the building are grandfathered because they haven't had any renovations so far, Adams explained. The lobby renovation is anticipated to cost $75,000.
Other phases of the plan include expanding the lobby facade base plaster coat, $90,000; the Main Street facade and marquee, $95,000; the Martin Street facade and roof expansion, $75,000; complete building facade, $75,000; and the Martin Street stage and marquee, $100,000.
The entire seven phase-plan is expected to cost a total of $660,000. With $177,000 to come from the theater's fund balance, Adams said another $483,000 needs to be raised.
The theater board created its renovation plans before it had completed a survey of the property line, which board members assumed ran along the back of the sidewalk on Martin Street.
“We were, unfortunately, wrong,” Adams said.
Instead, the existing property line is 5.4 feet closer to the building, which means it would run through the middle of the proposed new bathroom addition, he said.
Adams said the theater board was requesting that the city consider abandoning that 5.4 feet of right-of-way. The resulting renovations would not cut into the existing southern sidewalk.
Looking down along Martin Street, most of the houses appear to be encroaching in the right-of-way, so Adams said widening the street at any point in the future seems unlikely.
City Engineer Scott Harter's written report to the council on the request also noted that the Martin Street intersection is “fully developed” with wide sidewalks on both the north and south sides.
“It is extremely unlikely that any further widening of the roadway would be required at the intersection. Because the roadway is fully developed, staff is supportive of researching options to relocate the ROW (right-of-way) line further south to accommodate the future projects,” Harter wrote.
Adams then showed the building's new conceptual exterior design, completed by Kelseyville architect Richard Hernaez, who accompanied Adams to the meeting.
The goal, Adams said, was to have the design reflect the great things going on inside the building.
“The building has become more than just a theater,” Adams said. “It's really becoming a community center.”
Adams noted that the major work ahead was “not going to happen overnight.”
However, he said the theater board believes the community will continue to be generous in its support. “We think the community is vested in this.”
“You guys have done so much,” noted Councilman Tom Engstrom.
“That will be the centerpiece of this community,” Engstrom added.
“And we'll have six more toilets!” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.
The rest of the council agreed that the plans were impressive, and Mayor Kenny Parlet said he was pleased to see that the theater board had a business plan that it was following. He said they had done a brilliant job of going through the phases, and it looks like it will really happen.
Engtrom moved to direct staff to work with the theater on adjusting the right-of-way, with the resulting documents to be brought to the council at a future meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin Scheel seconded, with the council voting 5-0.
Adams and the group of theater board members in attendance thanked the council for its support.
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