Questions & Answers

1. Why is the Catskill Mountain Foundation's Performing Arts Center being built in the Village of Tannersville?
   In 2001 the renowned theater architecture firm Hardy Holzman did a study of the Catskill Mountain Foundation's long term performance facility needs. They looked at the possibility of converting the Foundation's existing movie theater in the Village of Hunter into a professional performing arts center, of building a brand new facility, and of converting another existing building into a performing arts center. After studying these options they recommended that we purchase the long closed Orpheum theater in Tannersville and convert it into a performing arts center. Hardy Holzman felt that this would be the most affordable way to end up with a professional performance space. The New Orpheum is being created to benefit the entire Mountain Top community, and in fact for the entire Northern Catskill High Peak Region.

2. Will you be taking the property off the tax rolls?
   When the Catskill Mountain Foundation was first formed, our plan was to take properties that we planned to purchase off the tax rolls. This is standard operating procedure for arts organizations, and the Federal government passed laws allowing for this, understanding that arts organizations would find it difficult to survive without this support.
   We quickly realized that taking our properties off of the tax roll would cause the taxes of others in the community to increase. As a result we have agreed that we will continue to make payments to the various tax authorities (Village, Town, County and School) on the properties we acquire, at the same rate at which they were taxed when we acquired them. We would not pay increased taxes based upon the improvements we make to the properties, but by paying taxes at the pre-acquisition rate we ensure that we are not shifting the tax burden to others.

3. When will construction start? When will it be completed?
   Some aspects of the construction have already begun. The architecture and enginerring planning was completed in November of 2005. We will work on demolition and renovation of the interior of the existing Orpheum building during the winter of 2006. Work on the dressing rooms, stage house, and lobby will begin after the ground is dry in the spring of 2006. The grand opening of the Orpheum theater is scheduled for July 4th weekend, 2007.

4. What will the Orpheum theater project cost and how much money has been raised so far?
   Our current budget for the Orpheum Theater project is $3.3 million. This includes the acquisition of the three properties needed for this project, the architectural and engineering planning costs, our fund raising and lobbying costs, the construction and management costs, and the carrying costs. We are in the process of obtaining bids from concrete, HVAC and electric subcontractors. These bids and any unforeseen circumstances may impact the actual costs of this project. So far we have raised approximately $2 million dollars. About $650,000 of this has come from government sources, with the balance coming from private donors. We still need to raise approximately $1.3 million dollars. We do not have the resources to complete this project without raising these remaining funds.

5. What kind of programs will be presented at the Orpheum Theater?
   All of the Foundation's theater and dance performances will be moved to the Orpheum Theater. All of our larger classical music programs will also be moved there. We expect to be able to expand our offerings in each of these areas. We will also make the Orpheum Theater available to theater groups in the community, including the local schools, the Greene Room Players, the Schoharie Creek Players, and Horton by the Stream. The Orpheum Theater will also be available to the Orchard Project, which will be bringing world class theater companies to the Catskill Mountain Foundation's Sugar Maples campus.

6. Who will be doing the construction?
   Most of the construction will be done by the Catskill Mountain Foundation's construction staff. This is the same group that renovated the red barn in the Village of Hunter, did the work at the Hunter Village Cinemas, built Hunter Village Square and that did the renovations on the Sugar Maples campus. Subcontractors will be used to do the concrete, HVAC and electrical work.

7. Why does the Foundation need support from individuals in the community if it is getting government support and substantial funding from some generous private donors?
   When we get funding from government agencies and from large private donors, they give us funding to help revitalize our community. Projects like the Orpheum Theater are very expensive, and significant donors always look to see if the project is being supported by local community members. A portion of the funding for projects like this always needs to come from many smaller contributors in the local community.