Proctor’s petition surpasses 1,000

In one week, more than 1,000 people have signed a petition asking the city of Troy not to tear down Proctor’s Theater on Fourth Street. Supporters of the facility say it can be saved.

Categories: Arts roundup
Danielle Furfaro

9 Responses

  1. MUB says:

    Do these 1,000 people plan to support this theater with regularity so it will be able to pay its bills? I would like to hear a discussion from people who presntly operate live performance arts sites and tell us how they are doing financially. Just from reading the daily news papers I get a sense that the existing venues are holding on by a thread and the last thing the area needs is another new venue. I would like to know how often these 1000 go to an existing venue, especially in Troy. The concept of saving Proctor’s as a historical building is very romantic and idealistic, but how about a dose of reality. Have you asked yourself why other efforts to develop the building have failed? If it is such a great site why has it been idle for 25 years? Do the people who are circulating the petition have any concrete committments for a theater?
    How about adaptive reuse? How about transforming it into something that won’t be in competition for that elusive entertainment dollar that is shrinking right about now.
    Disclaimer: I have no affliiation what so ever, with any entertainment venue.

  2. dm says:

    I am split on this. In one way I feel that once it is gone, it is gone. Can these city support 2 Proctors and 1 Palace Theater? That said, I love the Palace in Albany and would hate to see the destuction of one of these places. They are beautiful and historic places. I would support this place by going to concerts at it if they could attract some good shows. If I were a tax payer in Troy, I wouldn’t mind a small increase in taxes to get this place back in business. Lets see how bad the area wants it, do a fundraiser. With all RPI has, you would think they could give a little back for a cause like this.

  3. silverbrunogate2008 says:

    Have the 1,000 pledged $1,000 each or even $100 each? NOPE, did not think so. 1,000 do-gooding activists happy to require other people spend their money on things that make the do-gooders happy. Pathetic.

  4. BADGE says:

    The old Proctors in Troy has been vacant since the early seventies. It would seem something would have already been done with the building after that length of time, blame it on years of incompetent city leadership no matter what political party is in control. It would take almost a miracle now to reverse the disgrace that downtown Troy has benn allowed to become.

  5. MUB says:

    #2 RPI owns the building now. They bought it several years ago, thinking they could do something with it. They found what previous owners and developers found, cost too much to fix as a theater and it was not economincally feasible.

    In addition, what most pepople forget is that after the initial investment is made, creating the project, what is the business plan to keep it going? Cap Rep, a well established theater with a long, successfull history ,is in need of at least $150,000. short term.

    The TU might find it useful to its readership do a feature on the history of this building over the last 30 years and also survey the arts community as to the impact yet another venue would have on the exisiting mareket.

  6. JG says:

    It would take many millions to rehab this building, it has to go. Signing a petition is easy but paying for it is another. How many of these 1000 people live in the city of Troy?
    I live in Troy and pay property taxes, tear it down and build something new, and something that generates property taxes.

  7. RKrough says:

    I have to agree with SilverBrunogate’s snarky response. I would add that in a city that cannot even financially support it’s public libraries, The mere suggestion that they should instead save a long vacant and rotting theater is the epitome of stupidity

  8. Dozer says:

    Many of us have the urge to protect Icons from the elegant past. Somehow we need to come to grip with the fact that Albany Schen and Troy are not going to become Historic District Gems! The same creeps have strangled property owners with the Historic district nitpicking, have let the gems rot away, Wellington, Proctors, name the rest.

  9. Rational says:

    Most of the comments above make 2 points: 1) that no one has ever stepped up to work on the theater before, and 2) That it will cost too much and won’t make money.

    To the first point, the city has stamped out no less than three attempts by local groups to renovate and reopen as a non-profit in the last 20 years, so frankly, you are wrong. City leaders can’t seem to get past the idea that the city can somehow make a huge pile of cash from this property.

    To the second point, several estimates from architects and development firms have shown that a basic renovation to get things cleaned up and usable will cost less than $2M, but somehow, the current plan needs $5M from the state to demolish the thing. On top of that, a cultural center doesn’t have to make money to be a success: Capital Rep, Schenectady Proctor’s, et al. are all losing money, but receive enough grants and donations every year to finance everything they need, plus some extra for renovation efforts. Also, A cultural draw in downtown will also bring business to the city, so even if the theater were run at a loss, the city as a whole would benefit.