SALISBURY — Salisbury University officials have announced plans to expand downtown further, with a $100 million performing arts center that could open within five years.
If approved by Wicomico County Council, the facility would be built on the site of the current home of the Wicomico Public Library’s Paul S. Sarbanes Branch, featuring an auditorium with seating for up to 1,000 people, a music and theatre space with seating for up to 450, a convertible dance studio, scenic and costume design facilities, dressing rooms and classroom and rehearsal space.
The proposed performing arts center would be the second largest indoor performance space in the county after the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center when constructed. The facility would join the SU Downtown campus and the Museum of Eastern Shore Culture, which is scheduled to open later this year.
Officials said a pending agreement between the county and Salisbury University would allow the university to take possession of the library located at the intersection of South Division and West Market Markets to build the performing arts center. In return, the university would lease the former Ward Museum to the county for the downtown library’s relocation.
Pending terms call for a 10-year lease with the county having the option of renewing it for two additional periods of 10 years each. The base rent for the initial term and each renewal period would be $1.00 annually.
The plan still needs approval by Wicomico County Council.
Sounds pretty neat, but where are people gonna park?
They will fly you in by helicopter !!!!!
So, what’s not 100% clear is what does “Officials said a pending agreement between the county and Salisbury University would allow the university to take possession of the library” mean??
Will SU lease, purchase, or be gifted (i.e., free) the property from the County?
While the lease agreement for the Ward Museum seems cheap, I would hope the same type of agreement would be put in place for the County’s property.
and are they going to treat the new building the same way as the Ward Museum, who is to bear the up keep and what happens to any proceeds collected.
Omg, omg, omg
I do hope the Salisbury Transgender team can strip.there for Friday night beer parties
Rent is a buck?!
They are giving away space at taxpayer expense while whining about the revenue cap!