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Two Business Owners Pitch Event Center Idea for Former Allegany

August 23rd, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Two local business owners on Thursday pitched an idea to renovate and repurpose the former Allegany High School building- with plans to convert it into an arts and entertainment facility that would host major concerts and events. County officials have been mulling the future of the building as the county will soon take ownership of the nearly 100 year old structure- and the early discussion has centered on demolishing it and looking toward the development of townhouses. Eric Turner and Don Ward approached the commissioners Thursday with their proposal to renovate the building- complete with a state of the art recording studio;  an 800 seat amphitheatre and a 2,000 seat event center…

Commissioner David Caporale said he can appreciate any proposals that would create such a venue in the county- the aging and badly deteriorating Allegany High building seems like a bad fit for those plans…

6 Responses to “Two Business Owners Pitch Event Center Idea for Former Allegany”

  1. August 23, 2019 at 10:35 am, Mark said:

    This may be worth the try and sure can’t hurt! But that’s why the local pols won’t lift a finger to see it happen. They’re rather find some stupid boondoggle to occupy their time & our taxes.

    Reply

    • August 23, 2019 at 10:46 am, Jay said:

      It’s a nice theory and a multi-use event center would certainly be great, but, to renovate and re-purpose an existing building is very expensive. As a reference, Mt. Savage School was renovated in about the year 2000 at a cost of approximately 14 million. And that was almost 20 years ago. As an aside, the recording studio idea would be wasteful and the 2 venues – 800 seat and 2000 seat is redundant. I’d say one or the other. But as Caporale said, the building is an infrastructure dinosaur. You’d likely still have to tear most of it down and start from scratch.>

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      • August 23, 2019 at 2:31 pm, Mark said:

        > I’m guessing the two seating numbers are meaning the gym AND the auditorium, both of which are newer and in much better shape than the main classroom section, which probably is too old for re-purposing.

        Reply

  2. August 23, 2019 at 11:35 am, mac said:

    I’m thinking more along the line that an 800 seat amphitheater would require parking for 400 cars, minimum. Where would that come from?

    Reply

  3. August 23, 2019 at 1:01 pm, kevin said:

    And remember how the old Carver school was to be repurposed? How’s that working out?

    Reply

  4. August 23, 2019 at 1:49 pm, Ed Dodrill said:

    Parking is already there. They had events for 100 years at the site. I think it would make a better Allegany School of Music and affiliate with larger established music schools in the east. Studio and concerts are good, but risky business.

    Reply

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