AUBURN — An idea to tie a new artist housing and studio development with the Community Little Theatre will be presented to the public Thursday night.
Community Little Theatre President Chris L’Hommedieu said his group is hosting a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. June 19 at the theater, 30 Academy St., for the public and an unnamed developer.
L’Hommedieu said the developer wants to build a tax-credit-supported housing development on the theater group’s unpaved parking lot. The development would provide affordable rents and studio space for artists.
“These would be units for working people who would get a break on their rents,” L’Hommedieu said. “The stated goal is to have basically artist lofts upstairs (in the existing building) to further develop the arts-side of that building. And in the new building, they are talking about putting art studios and arts organizations on the first floor.”
The city owns the lot and the building, the site of the old Great Falls School. City councilors signed a 99-year lease with CLT in August 2011, giving the group control of the building. The city demolished the western wing of the old Great Falls School, leaving the unpaved parking lot.
The eastern portion of the building is home to the theater and its costume storage space, the gym and some offices.
The theater group is in charge of all heating, utilities, snowplowing and repairs for the eastern wing. They also pay property taxes to the city and can sublet spaces.
L’Hommedieu said the development would give CLT renovation efforts a big boost.
“Somebody else would spend $1 million renovating the entire building, making it look beautiful and reducing our costs massively in the long term,” L’Hommedieu said. “Meanwhile, we’d get to maintain our existing lease.”
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