The Cayuga County Arts Council is not only trying to restore the historic Schine Theater, it's also trying to restore the public's interest in the project.
The council is completing the paperwork on an application for $248,525 in U.S. Housing and Urban Development funds that were earmarked for the project by Congress last January.
As part of the process, an environmental review was done by the city of Auburn, in which it was determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. As part of the process, the public has a legally-required 15 days to comment on that report.
But the arts council also is hoping to elicit a different sort of public comment on the broader project.
"We're not reaching out into the community as much as we could," President Dia Carabajal said.
As a result there's been "some negative feelings and misinformation" circulating in the community, she said. "People feel we're doing nothing."
But the council is trying to change that perception.
"We're trying to be more visible - to let people know things are happening. We want to get ourselves out there for the community and to get people interested," Carabajal said.
The council has plans to use part of the HUD money for asbestos abatement. Other interior work can't be done until it is removed, Carabajal said. It also plans to continue work on the facade and then start on the lobby.
"That's what we're looking forward to," Carabajal said. "We're ready to go."
She's not sure how long it will take for government reviewers to finish processing the application, although the standard time is six to eight weeks. "You're talking about a federal process," she said laughing.
Mike Long, capital improvement program manager for Auburn, is helping the council through the process.
Chuck Stephan, from Iverson Construction in Geneva, who has previously worked on the project, will continue as construction and building management. Roseanne Hennessey, from the Rochester architectural firm Mossien Associates, is handling the physical planning and restoration side of things.
As part of its public outreach, the council will have a display of some of the Schine's restored light fixtures at today's Business at Five event, hosted by the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, which takes place at Willard Chapel. It also will participate in the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District's holiday activities.
"We're taking the first step to let people know what's happening," she said.
Staff writer Mary Bulkot can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or mary.bulkot@lee.net
As part of the process, an environmental review was done by the city of Auburn, in which it was determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. As part of the process, the public has a legally-required 15 days to comment on that report.
But the arts council also is hoping to elicit a different sort of public comment on the broader project.
"We're not reaching out into the community as much as we could," President Dia Carabajal said.
As a result there's been "some negative feelings and misinformation" circulating in the community, she said. "People feel we're doing nothing."
But the council is trying to change that perception.
"We're trying to be more visible - to let people know things are happening. We want to get ourselves out there for the community and to get people interested," Carabajal said.
The council has plans to use part of the HUD money for asbestos abatement. Other interior work can't be done until it is removed, Carabajal said. It also plans to continue work on the facade and then start on the lobby.
"That's what we're looking forward to," Carabajal said. "We're ready to go."
She's not sure how long it will take for government reviewers to finish processing the application, although the standard time is six to eight weeks. "You're talking about a federal process," she said laughing.
Mike Long, capital improvement program manager for Auburn, is helping the council through the process.
Chuck Stephan, from Iverson Construction in Geneva, who has previously worked on the project, will continue as construction and building management. Roseanne Hennessey, from the Rochester architectural firm Mossien Associates, is handling the physical planning and restoration side of things.
As part of its public outreach, the council will have a display of some of the Schine's restored light fixtures at today's Business at Five event, hosted by the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, which takes place at Willard Chapel. It also will participate in the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District's holiday activities.
"We're taking the first step to let people know what's happening," she said.
Staff writer Mary Bulkot can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or mary.bulkot@lee.net
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