CITY OF BRENHAM PROCEEDS WITH MOU FOR POSSIBLE BARNHILL CENTER ACQUISITION
The City of Brenham is moving forward with possibly acquiring the Barnhill Center at the Historic Simon Theater.
Following an executive session, the Brenham City Council on Thursday agreed to develop a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. to evaluate the city’s possible acquisition of the historic venue. The council also authorized paying up to $35,000 in interest payments to facilitate the potential acquisition.
City Manager James Fisher said the city is preparing a MOU to allow the city and the management team at the Simon Theater to work together on potentially transitioning ownership of the facility to the city. He said the interest payments will be used to allow for time to develop a business plan and consider multiple options.
At its meeting March 25th, the council approved an assignment of lease and MOU regarding the Simon Theater from Simon Theater Master Tenant, LLC to the Historical Preservation. The Master Tenant was created to allow the use of historic tax credits to assist in financing improvements to the facility. As the requirements and obligations for the tax credit program have been satisfied, there was no longer a need for the Master Tenant, thus leading to the lease assignment and MOU for the Historical Preservation.
The goal of the Historical Preservation, according to its president, Hal Moorman, is to turn the facility over to the city for use once the restoration project is complete.
The council will have the final say on approval of the MOU and transition options.
I can’t believe that city leaders are wanting to bail out the rich folks that started this project. They don’t want to pay the interest payments out of there own pockets so let’s get the city taxpayers to foot the bill. There is no way this building will ever break even. Oh that’s right they are going to use hotel motel tax funds to pay for it. They took the money away from Chamber of Commerce that was using the money on advertising to get visitors to come to BRENHAM. Citizens wake up , ask questions of your council people. If you don’t like there answer, elections are coming up, make your voices heard. Get out and vote…..
Executive sessions in this town have a history of yielding bad decisions for taxpayers. Ex: A substantial land purchase to assist a locally owned failing bank under the guise of a regional landfill). This type of decision belongs to a council vote. Council represents the citizens.
The poverty rate in this city is about 27%. More than one quarter of our city inhabitants cannot afford anything this “ historic” building offers. It’s a place for posh upper crust soirées. Convention center? Really? It is not even close nor never has been self supporting. The city and county have devoted hundreds of thousands to this albatross. This is a money pit, nothing more.
Now this is a city boondoggle that deserves a citizen uproar.