Rehoboth Beach Commissionersโข Advance Clear space Theater โdeal,Financialโข Details Remain
rehoboth Beach city commissioners moved forwardโค with a advancement plan to attract Clear Space Theatre โคto the city,approving moast terms of a proposed agreement while pausing onโค final financial details. โคThe โdiscussion, held โrecently, centered aroundโค a lease agreement for land, city funding, and โฃa public-private partnership to โsupport the theatre’s relocation.
The proposedโข agreement outlines a $1 per year land lease for Clear Space,โ a $1 million contribution from the โฃcity towards the theater’s capital campaign, and a โwaiver of building permit fees. In return, theโ city would retain revenue from any additional parking spaces created as part of โขthe project and would implement a facilityโ fee on all tickets sold forโข events at โคthe new theater. A number โof designated parking spots would also be reserved for Clear Space, mirroring an arrangement withโ theโข city’s โคsenior โcenter.The agreement explicitly guarantees Clear Space full creative and โขbusiness โคautonomy.
Commissioner Chris Galanty voiced support โขfor all aspects of the plan but emphasized the need for further scrutiny ofโ the financial implications. โคCommissioner Craigโฃ Thier expressed concern aboutโ potential financial riskโ to the city should Clear Space decide toโฃ withdraw from the project, advocating for โขthe implementation of milestones โtheโ theater โขmustโ meet before receiving cityโข funds.
Clear Space Executive Director Joe gfaller acknowledged these concerns, stating theโ theater also seeks a mutually beneficial agreement. Commissioner Suzanne Goode raised โคquestions about the fairness of โขproviding financial support to Clear Spaceโฃ whenโ similar assistance โคisn’t offered to theaters in other Delawareโ cities. gfaller responded that the โlack โขof such partnerships in Delaware reflectsโข a 40-yearโ gap in the construction โขofโค new performing arts facilities.
Theโ discussion also touched upon โa competing offer from theโข city ofโค Lewes. Goode expressed concern over Lewes’ private negotiations with Clear Space, requesting City Solicitor Lisa Borin Ogden provide details โขof Lewes’ offer to the commission. Ogden confirmed Lewes hadโ presented a “strong competitive offer” comparable โto Rehoboth’s proposal, โbutโ declined to share specifics.
Public comment generally favored โmoving forward with โคthe โขplan, though some residents raised concerns regarding premature agreement, zoning โขregulations, the cost ofโข staff timeโ offset by waived permitting fees, the โneed for aโฃ parking garage, and the potential loss of openโฃ space.
Ultimately, Commissioner โGalanty motioned to approve all sections of the termโข sheet except the financial details, allowing city officialsโค time to refine the โฃagreement. Commissioner Susan Stewartโค successfullyโ amendedโฃ the motion to include the land lease portion of the financials.Commissioner Goode was the sole dissenting โvote.
Mayor Stan Mills anticipates the financial details willโ be finalized by โคthe commissioner meeting on Friday, october 17th.Following the โmeeting, Gfaller indicated Clear Space’s board will decideโข on โฃa property location at their meeting on Wednesday, October 22nd.