Editor:
On May 3, the completion of the renovation of the historic Havre de Grace Opera House will be on the Havre de Grace ballot as Referendum B. We encourage all citizens to vote "Yes."
This historic building (built in 1870) will house a Cultural Arts Center, is located across the street from the new Havre de Grace Library and will become an intrinsic part of the renaissance of this entrance into the downtown area at Pennington and Union Avenues. Both of these projects will attract business, increase tourism and bring more attention to our beautiful city.
The building will be used for performing arts groups (both local and touring companies), programs for children, programs for special needs, conferences, lecture series, musical concerts, private receptions, and more. We anticipate that more than 20,000 people will visit or use the cultural center in the course of any one year, six times more than we had before.
This referendum is happening now to stem the rising construction costs, to facilitate an earlier opening of the building, and to boost the economy. A recent economic impact study created by the national organization, Americans for the Arts, states that the arts and culture industry is an "economically sound investment" for all communities. "Attendance at arts events generates income for local businesses, restaurant, hotels, and retail stores. An average arts attendees spends $24.60 per event in addition to the cost of admission." In essence, the report states, that when a community attracts cultural tourists, it harnesses significant economic rewards.
The bond bill that is being proposed of will guarantee the completion of this project within twelve months' time instead of three to four years. The budgeted yearly commitment to the project for those multiple years was $250,000 while the payback for the bond will be less at $198,000 per year. It is projected that the cultural center will infuse nearly $500,000, in to the local economy, that doubles the investment.
Join us in support of this transformation and help us create and leave a legacy for our children and our children's children: a place where the arts can flourish and make a difference in our quality of life.
William Price III
Chair, Havre de Grace Opera House Foundation