I was humbled by the number of comments my last post about the Center generated. With that came a request for clarity around the sale of the Center and its finances. Here goes.
With the best of intentions and a solid plan in hand, the original team set out to build a premier convention and performing arts center. As they were about to break ground, they received news that the USDA €“ the guarantor on the facility’s mortgage – required an archeological dig of the site which delayed construction for months. After that was sorted out construction began just as the Katrina rebuilding effort and some additional market pressures decreased supply and increased demand for building materials. This created serious cost overruns that took the final construction cost well beyond the funds raised. As a result, the building was value engineered to reduce costs, and management was forced to lease many building fixtures and much of the equipment necessary to make the facility ready for prime time. These developments, combined with a board of directors and management team that were not experienced in managing this type of facility and did not know its market, created a perfect storm of debt.
Layered on top of the debt was that same management team, determined to promote an ambitious musical theater program in Southeast Iowa – a noble idea IMHO – but they neglected to cultivate the broader base of entertainment required to generate sustainable attendance rates and ticket sales. Additionally, the construction debt was incurred without reckoning with an immutable principal of non-profit administration: facilities such as this never support debt service and generally require private donations and institutional or governmental underwriting to sustain operations.
This all resulted in $5MM in debt, of which $4MM was an Iowa State Bank mortgage and the balance was equipment leases. Newcomers to the FACC board in early 2009 obtained concessions from the equipment lessors that reduced the other $900k of debt by about half. This left the mortgage as the proverbial elephant in the room. (The rest of the history lesson will be posted on a site that will deliver all of the facts about the Center within the next couple of weeks. So until then, let’s leave history and get to today.)
The mortgage holder, Iowa State Bank is taking steps to minimize any loss it may incur on the mortgage in the course of reorganizing the Center’s finances. This means selling the facility if possible. The parties have determined that significant value only can be obtained from an educational or civic organization that has need of a performing arts center. Significant value probably cannot be realized from conversion of the center to commercial, retail or industrial use. The listing for sale, if successful, will result in purchase of the center by a deep-pocketed group that needs to continue to cultivate patron and community goodwill. In practice this would mean making the facility available on reasonable terms to community groups.
If the listing does not result in a sale within six months, then FACC, the bank, the city and the county will renew discussions of a public-private partnership to purchase the facility from the bank, which would proceed with foreclosure.
The partnership will attempt to raise up to $2M in cash for purchase of the property free and clear and to retire all debt, from the following sources: $.5M from donations, $650k from the city devoting a currently uncommitted portion of its local option sales tax revenues over 9 years, and $350k from the county devoting a portion of its local option sales tax revenues that is currently applied to reduce county resident property taxes. This transaction, together with some additional ongoing support for center operations from private sources, should assure the long-term financial stability of the center.
The website, which will launch shortly, will have additional details. I hope this post at least answers the questions raised in comments.
Thanks for the opportunity to respond!
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Great summary; thank you.
I wonder why Iowa State Bank would foreclose? What value is the facility to them in foreclosure that it isn't otherwise? I suppose this would leave them with sole control of FACC, but would/could they do anything differently than is being proposed already? The value of the facility is what it is regardless of who owns it.
BTW, what is the monthly debt payment?
I'd be interested in more details about why "Significant value probably cannot be realized from conversion of the center to commercial, retail or industrial use"? Because I'd suggest we all need to view the facility in completely new light. The "convention center" side of the building has not resulted in the the influx of conventions that the original planners imagined. Fairfield doesn't have the hotel and entertainment facilities to make us an attractive convention choice. So I'd suggest the convention center side be sold and/or redesigned into something completely different having nothing to do with the arts or conventions. Suggestions? (BTW, it's not that I think the CC side is less valuable than the "theater" side… it's just that it seems much more flexible.)
Here are a few suggestions off of the top of my head, (some based on things I wish Fairfield had):
1. Ice skating rink
2. Men's clothing store
3. A really good sushi restaurant
4. A permanent, magnificent, model train setup
5. Apartments
6. Light manufacturing / assembly facility — Is there any company we can bring to Fairfield that manufactures green / sustainable products? Something that could / would be needed in every home in Jefferson County? How about solar panels?
7. A public / private business to "green up" Jefferson County. Loan money to home owners to make their homes more energy efficient, with payments structured to be less than the money currently paid to the energy / water companies.
8. Fill the entire place with brightly colored plastic balls (a "ball room") and drop the kids off for a week or two.
9. Fill the entire place with brightly dressed adults and music (a "ballroom") and drop the parents off for a week or two. You may have to serve alcohol.
10. Walmart
11. A medical marijuana grow room
12. A 24 x 7 x 365 gay marriage "chapel", complete with Elvis impersonators. As it's going, Iowa may be the last state where this is legal.
Mark do you happen to know if shows like The Nutcracker and Peter Pan were profitable and whether we can except those productions to show up at the FACC again?
Mark, thanks for posting clarifications. Forgive my lack of detail, but my understanding is that if we can raise the $2 million from public & private sources, then the convention center will be owned free & clear of all debt at a vastly reduced amount compared to the value of the debt load. At that point it will be pretty much self-sufficient.
Eddie, I love your comments, especially the gay chapel idea. Ha! But actually Rustin Lippencott has done a fabulous job of starting to get events booked in the convention center side, and that has been steadily increasing. According to outside experts in civic center projects, most of these buildings have growing pains at the beginning, and Fairfield's is in better shape at this point than most, especially given the timing vis-a-vis the recession (it opened a month or 2 before this 2-yr-old recession started)
Anyway, I think this facility contributes a lot to the community, both culturally and financially (over 17,000 people from outside of FF have attended events at the FACC, and they have spent over $5 million whilst here), and it deserves our support. It is not in imminent danger of failing.
That said, let's not forget the Cafe Paradiso, which also contributes a ton to our cultural life! And they don't have their hands out to the community for donations; they're a "private business" whose owners barely scrape by. We should support the events, buy their coffee, and tip generously – and maybe throw in an extra 5 or 10 bucks to the owners from time to time to help cover their overhead.
They need to raise $2M if a sale does not happen by June 2010? Meaning 6 months from now?
You point out where $1.5M will come from, what about the other $.5M.
If a sale does not go through, and foreclosure proceeds, then are you saying that Iowa State Bank will eat $2-2.5M?
I appreciate the information Mark. Will the public/county own a percentage of the center based on the monies raised for purchased (assuming the center is not sold to a private party)?
You're quite welcome. Unfortunate that you feel that it is a debacle. IMHO it will be far more of a debacle if it fails and we (the town) are left with an empty space or worse yet, some other less desirable tenant.
GLB, I appreciate your comments, but I encourage you to look at the bigger picture. Even though you have no interest in attending FACC events, it may be improving your personal quality of life in several ways:
1. It increases tourism in Fairfield. The number of out-of-town folks attending functions there is apparent by simply strolling around the facility during an event and noticing how many out of town license plates are parked around….that number increases all the time. Tourism is called a "clean industry" because it is almost entirely upside and very little downside: tourists spend money in Fairfield on gas, food, and often lodging.
2. When the FACC attracts overnight guests who stay in one of our motels or bed & breakfasts, they contribute to the hotel and motel tax which supports many other activities in Fairfield which you may enjoy, such as the fabulous trail system, 1st Fridays Art Walk, and other things/events the hotel/motel tax helps support, etc.
3.Employers find is easier to attract skilled workers to Fairfield when the cultural community – including the FACC events – in Fairfield is so lively and diverse. These folks move here and add to the tax base, and companies thrive and add to the tax base, as well. I hope someone is collecting comments from employers I've chatted with who are very grateful for the FACC, art walk, the trails, etc. which are very attractive and useful recruiting tools for their businesses.
I mentioned the following somewhere else on Fairfield Voice, but another “big picture” view of the FACC is to look at its current challenges in the context of other start-up arts facilities. When the executive director of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of N. Iowa visited here, he commented that the FACC’s start-up challenges were common for all arts facilities, and that we were actually in better shape than many. Since he has been involved with a number of these type facilities, it was encouraging to hear his assessment.
IF the tax support of the FACC goes to a vote and IF it passes, I hope everyone can appreciate the biggest picture about the advantages of the FACC for our community. If we can get past “the past” and look at the present situation, I would hope most people can support this valuable asset for personal or community betterment reasons.
And to be clear, I do not work for the FACC, I just love what it adds to Fairfield on so many levels.
Will, is there anything I can do to make all "Replies" show up without clicking on them? I just replied without reading Mark's excellent history and GLB's interesting response. Not sure that would have changed my response, but I wish I'd seen it first. My bad.
I think I need to pay attention more, haha. I like the responses in the current order, yes. Thanks for the quick reply.
To Will and GLB regards FACC's viability in attracting skilled workers: since are are no current statisticss on that, I'm fine with agreeing to disagree. I wish that someone would gather them though. I do know that Fairfield's Superintendent of Schools, Don Achelpohl, has gone on record saying he feels that the FACC has been an advantage to hiring prospective FF Community School District employees.
GLB, I understand your frustration about start-ups going out of business. I agree that Fairfield has what seems to be more than its fair share of these, but that's because our town likely has more start-ups than other town's it's size/location – which isn't necessarily a bad thing. While Fairfield's start-ups ARE in business, they are employing people, adding to the local economy. And I say that knowing what a drag it is to get laid off or lose your job as a company folds. Been there as well a few times.
Small Business Association states that "two-thirds of new employer establishments survive at least two years, and 44 percent survive at least four years," and "as a general rule of thumb, new employer businesses have a 50/50 chance of surviving for five years or more." I think Fairfield might possibly be beating this average in many cases in successful start-ups.
I have to pipe in because my husband has been working for a "mediator business" (that employs about 85% locals) that has been successful for 24 years here in Fairfield. There are other 10- 20 year “start-ups” (and pretty much “meditator” companies) that are stable and often expanding: Chappell Studio, Bovard Studio, Danaher Oil, Americus Diamond, Hawthorne Direct, Revelations, Creative Edge, LISCO, IPAM….just to name a few.
GLB, if you ever want to try art walk or see anything at the FACC, I invite you to accompany my husband and I as our guest, and for a couple beers afterward if you like. I understand that a lot of those activities are not your cup of tea, but in case you want to ever give it a whirl, I’m sincere about my invitation. I doubt I’ll ever change you mind about many things, but I really admire your participation here on Fairfield Voice, and I value your thoughts.
Here's a good New York Times article from Saturday's paper about recent art museum expansions that is relevant to the conversation:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/arts/design/12b...
I know this is going to sound stupid but how could they have built a place like that without planning for adequate parking? We used to have a large municipal lot just north of the square. Now we have a big fat Arts and Convention Center. Not only did this close down much needed parking for the retail businesses and restaurants on the square, it leaves no decent parking for the Arts and Convention Center itself. There is some room behind the center which COULD be parking but it's never been finished off for that purpose. More sensible would have been to place the center at the North West corner of the lot and had parking to the East and South. This could have allowed for quite a bit of parking that would have worked both for businesses and for the Center itself. This point was raised with the City Council during the planning stages but they didn't seem to care.
All,
As promised, the FACC has launched a new website that has the business plan and many other facts, news, and history on it. Enjoy!
http://www.FairfieldCenterInfo.com
Thanks for all you are doing Mark to get the good news out about how the FACC is overcoming its past challenges and blossoming as a crown jewel for our community. I hope everyone accesses the new FACC informational web site http://www.fairfieldcenterinfo.com. I also invite everyone in the Fairfield community and our worldwide diaspora to join the 300 for 100 campaign. The FACC ran in the black this last year because of sharply increased revenues and public support. As is the case with every public institution like the FACC, or Hancher, or any other similar institution, there will always be a need for some level of public support. The FACC board has created the 300 for 100 campaign to address ongoing operating and capital needs above event revenue. Those needs will be completely met with a yearly contributions averaging $100 a month from 300 well-wishers. All levels of donation will be gratefully accepted. It really is a wonderful feeling to know we all are contributing the health of this remarkable facility which has brought so much good, aethetic and financial, to our community. Donating is easy online at https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flo...
Hey,
Nobody seems to be commenting after 12/18. I am just finding out about all this and read most of the blog so far. Thanks for all the info . I am quite interested in this matter. I think the history of how we got to here might be important. I think it show that the path chosen did not work. The current plan would be just changing the the debt burden to a tax burden. Simple math shows that it can’t run as profitable business the way it is. I say let it default sell all the assets and start over on a new and better path. Let the chips fall where the may, don’t think you should throw good money at a bad investment unless you got tons of money.
Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a progressive disease. You get more dependent on alcohol by drinking it. It step by step changes a chemical balance in the brain. Gamma-amino butyric acid is a naturally-occurring brain chemical which commands inhibitions. Anyone who’s ever been drunk has experienced the outcome of the reduction in levels of GABA because of alcohol, which goes away as you get sober again. Continued consumption of alcohol could permanently decrease the levels of this substance, leading to more alcohol consumption, leading to possible alcoholism.
Thanks for the thoughtful commentary back.
The bank has been magnanimous in terms of the debt. At this point, payments are zero. In fact, that is the end game we seek as we either find a buyer as described above or move ahead with the public-private partnership. In either case, IMHO, the bank would much rather have the Center in business with a new owner than foreclose with little hope of ROI in site.
Although youput forth some really neat ideas, they won't necessarily add to the community as holistically as keeping the facility going does. It draws numerous out of town visitors which contribute, substantially, to the community – we'll have these facts on the website I referenced as well.
Additionally, you make a good point about the Convention center side being underutilized. That is the diamond in the rough. We've already had numerous out of town events – the Great Prairie Education Agency had over 50 meetings and events at the Center in 2009. 2 Math Bees each brought 700 attendees to Fairfield, and 4 other events brought 300 attendees respectively. You can be sure that many of these attendees spent more money in Fairfield that day, even it was simply buying a Coke or gassing up.
Our business plan addresses the convention side of the business via a reasonable investment in personnel and marketing to attract more events like Great Prairie, the Wind Energy Conference which drew 400 people to town, and of course the Tri-State Development Summit which brought two State Senators as a part of the 275 attendees. Ideally, we'll have larger, 2 and 3 day events – and there's a plan for that too, including lodging expansion – but one step at a time!
That's what the new board and management is all about. The grand plan was laid, and we've now focused in on recovery and then, expansion.
I'll leave you with this quote from an event organizer which does a far better job than I at describing just how unique and powerful an asset that the Center is to Fairfield:
"For 14 years the Annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show has experienced a successful life in the Fairfield community. The last two years we have had the privilege of holding the show in the new Fairfield Art and Convention Center. The Center has allowed us to greatly expand what the show can offer.
People come from all over the state of Iowa as well as the surrounding states to attend and these new and beautiful facilities have resulted in increasing our attendance by more than 65% above our previous annual average. We have received many compliments on the Center by visitors to our show.
The Fairfield Community made a very wise choice in providing these facilities. There are only about five of these shows in the state of Iowa and our community is the smallest one to have a show. We are extremely grateful to have a beautiful home like the FA&CC in which to display our show and community."
- Bill Rathbun, Sac & Fox Lapidary Club
#10. Walmart? Don't we already have one (too many) of those?
Will,
I do not, it is a bit complicated because most of the revenue for those shows goes to WOB, not the Center. I would suspect that as long as they run a profitable business that they will continue to bring entertainment that is at least as good as Peter Pan (I didn't get to see the Nutcracker, well not here anyway
WOB is merely renting the facility, so it is neither profitable nor unprofitable, no matter how many or few people attend the events and no matter how expensive they are to put on. It is my impression that renting the Sondheim is at least a break-even for the facility, but of course that would all depend on how many days per year it is booked.
WOB is nowhere nearly breaking even as far as I can tell, but they have their own very generous supporters independent of FACC supporters (but they compete with FACC for donation dollars)
The Nutcracker was one of the best things I've seen there, and I was hoping to see it again this year. So I was wondering if there was a financial reason.
Thank you again, Mark. Excellent points. I hope the FACC succeeds.
My pleasure, thank YOU.
My pleasure Mr. D, my interest is to disseminate as many of the facts as is possible, as it is my sincere belief – as a relative newcomer to Fairfield with no inclination to be dragged into the lore and conjecture surrounding this incredible community asset – that others will feel the same as me.
Anyway, the answer to your question is yes. And they have indicated that they are not interested in running the facility. The plan is for them to lease the facility back to the FACC for a nominal rent.
So the City will own the building and lease it out to FACC? Will that lease be exactly the cost of overheard, will there be a profit or will there be a debit?
Perhaps I should have written: #10. Walmart
That is a distinct possibility Will. Right now the conversation is that, if the city does purchase a piece or all of the Center, that the lease will be at a "reasonable rate."
Doesn't there need to be a public vote as to whether the city/county would be approved to assume this debt? That was my understanding, but perhaps this is reference is in a different context.
Yes GLB, to be clear, the conversation above relates to a scenario that only occurs if the public/private partnership goes to vote and if it passes!
That's what I thought. Thanks for clarifying. Personally, I hope it never gets to that point. If the center can't raise enough capital through private donations, so be it. My tax dollars will NOT fund this debacle.
I'm not a big fan of the tax option on this one, however, I agreee it IS a better alternative than letting it fail completely. That's a loss for everyone.
I'm hoping that the plan for a public funding will be transparent, realistic, and in no way a "bailout" of poorly managed investments. I also am interested in knowing what (if anything) will suffer by having tax dollars diverted to the FACC, and details on the missing $.5M (see my comment above).
What annoys me about the whole situation is that those who pushed for the center were a select group of people. The public did NOT vote on whether or not to approve the construction of a community arts and convention center. Of course, I know there wouldn't be a vote unless tax dollars funded the construction, but my point is that when a huge pet project like this is planned and implemented by a select group of individuals and private donors, then fails, I don't want to be told I have to help pay for it.
I'm just a simple guy – I don't attend any events at the center. Let those who DO appreciate what it has to offer foot the bill in some way. Just my 2 cents.
Hey GLB,
I appreciate where you're coming from. Unlike yermama, in full disclosure, I am a member of the FACC board of directors. My family and I moved to Fairfield almost 2 years ago so that I could take a job here. When we were making our decision, a number of things about Fairfield made it an easy decision to move here – from Denver, CO by the way. In no particular order, the trails system, the number of parks and ponds/lakes, the amount of cultural activities those that are held in FACC and those that aren't, the FACC, our diversity relative to other towns of this size, and numerous volunteer opportunities.
When I decided to volunteer, the FACC made sense to me because, having been involved with a similar facility albeit larger, in Denver, I knew how much it meant to the community (for all of those reasons stated by yermama) and felt that I could help it through this trying time so that it can continue to contribute and, to ultimately thrive.
Since I am on the board, I'm privvy to some of the history that frankly, I hadn't known about until I was a board member. So given what you wrote about only a small group being involved, I encourage you to read on…
When Sally Neff Denney and Suzan Kessel started the project, the first person they went to was Mayor Bob Rasmusson. They wanted his insight & blessing. He immediately joined the board, and discussion of funding took place – LOST, Hotel Motel taxes etc – none of these were in existence at time. They actually had hoped to NOT involve public money, and went that direction to get off the ground. They sought out other board members from strong community organizations for a wide base of supporters – The Chamber (Sarah Cochran), Jefferson County Fair Board (Ken Norton & Korwin Hishaw), The Hospital (Joneane Parker), Fairfield Public Schools (Sally), Businesses (John Stever), Arts Organizations (FACT Nan Cameron & Deb Glass, FAA (Suzan & Jane McNerney), and of course, The City of Fairfield (Rasmusson & council members Jeff Harris & Tom Stanley). They also sought out TM individuals for a town/meditator balance – Coralee Dey (Dance) and Sheila Swanson (Grant writer help).
That group initiated two community wide programing sessions with 2 different architects – four days where invitations were publicly extended to all groups, service clubs, city & county officials, businesses, manufacturers & individuals to attend and give input for a facility. Design for the building came out of these sessions.
During the feasibility study, which included another broad group of individuals (about 80, both in support of & those who were not), it was determined that the facility should go downtown – this was recommended by city council members at the time.
Although the FACC (originally Jefferson County Civic Center) was incorporated as a non-profit and did not require public meetings, they had public meetings – some at the library – for input through out the project. They taped shows for FPAC TV and put announcements of progress in the Fairfield Ledger. One of their fundraising campaigns was hosted by the local radio station.
If you look at our donor list you will be amazed by the numbers and variety of individuals and interests. Supporters are rural, in-town, and from far away, Parson grads, mediators and not, very young (children) and very old, male, female, single, divorced & family, 5th generation community members, new comers (like me), theatre buffs, rock music lovers, car enthusiasts, gardeners, athletes – and just regular guys.
The FACC board is well aware that there are some in the community who feel badly about not being included in the groups above and certainly wish that it was possible to have accommodated more. And we also understand that we cannot possibly get everyone to vote positively to support the Center either.
But from where I sit, I'm going to do everything I can to tell these stories. To put the facts out there. So that when the time does come to make a decision, that your and everyone else's decisions are as well informed as they can be.
Will, I can tell you a couple of things. Firstly, in no way, shape or form is this a "bailout." This will be a true, mutually beneficial partnership. I can't address the tax question right now, I don't know that we'll know that until it goes for vote and we see what the City budget has (or doesn't have) in it. And hopefully Joan will address your other question as I believe she wrote about that.
Yermama, thanks for your thoughts. Again, like most people in this area, I'm a simple guy – the trails system, the art walk – they don't matter at all to me. I've never attended the art walk – and have no plans to, but I know a lot of people do attend, and that's great. But personally, I don't see any benefit for ME. The trails system was just fine prior to making a huge loop that only a handful of people actually use on a regular basis. As for employers in the area – that's another problem. I have personally worked for 3 companies in the past 9 years that have folded. If Fairfield could generate something more than novelty businesses that fold after 2 years, attractiveness to valuable and skilled employees would be something I could agree with. We might be able to attract them, but they won't -and often don't – stay here. Unless they are meditators – but I'm not going to go there right now.
A bit off topic, but . . .
Working for 3 companies in 9 years is becoming the norm, if not already. The days of job security, as defined by working most your life for one company, are being replaced by a workforce that is continually rotating through companies and evolving skill sets to stay competitive.
Fairfield, Seattle, Iowa City . . . Microsoft, Ford or the 10 employee startup . . . this is happening everywhere and at every level. I hope that gives some perspective to what is NOT a Fairfield quirk.
I do disagree with the whole FACC-attracts-skilled-workers argument. I think that's a big reach. The justification for the FACC as a publicly owned entity, needs to be conducted with a few focused pieces of real data (positive) and also a strong message at how painless the sale will be for the middle and lower class pocket books. It should NOT be a hard pitch that the FACC is the solution to all our problems (and yermama I'm not directing that at you).
Interesting history, indeed. Thank you, Mark.
I have lived in this area my entire life, and my perspective on the FACC's history is a bit different. What shows up on paper about the FACC's inception and initial support network doesn't reflect what the general public consensus was on the whole project. Despite the opposition, once people realized the center was moving forward regardless of their opinion, there was hope it could deliver on all the promises. If it had to be there, why not? But, now that it's failing, people like me are sitting back saying "I told you so…" In the end, if it comes to a vote – and the vote passes, I will be livid.
For the record – there was a vote by the city (not the county) on allocating L.O.S.T. (Local Option Sales Tax) funds to the Civic Center. It passed by nearly 61%. This is the only vote on the matter taken so far. In this campaign it was promised that no property taxes would be used to support the Center. The Civic Center Board, on which I served from 1998 – 2004, at one time voted for a more modest facility for $4 million, the amount then in hand or pledged. The Board then reversed itself at its next meeting and went for the 'Cadillac' version and trying to fund raise the difference – with the unhappy results we know. The most important thing at this juncture is that we have a real income/expenses history to project on, not pie-in-the-sky 'business plans' that were never realistic.
Once a certain size limit is reached, the comment threads start collapsing to save page load times. This is a setting that cannot be changed unfortunately.
I could alter the layout so that new comments appear at the top, but that may be confusing for other reasons. ??
Yermama, thanks for your response. I have nothing against meditator businesses, and have worked for them much of the last 15 years (including my current position). As you might have guessed, I am not a meditator – but I do have many meditator friends, and others that are loyal clients to my consulting business. I appreciate the oppotunities I have been given, but am disappointed in myself for a few bad decisions I made (agains my gut feeling) based on empty promises.
It's probably true that my frustrations regarding business failures have been misdirected – I can't truly blame anyone but myself for my recent experiences. I will say that I agree with Will – I don't really buy that the FACC is something that will help attract new talent to FF. Ultimately, I guess we will agree to disagree.
Oh, to add to my other reply – I forgot to mention that those 9 years / 3 jobs included 3 years I couldn't FIND a job. Started my own business as a result, ironically enough. In the end, it forced me into bankruptcy…
Will, I agree with that to some degree. However, my point was that those 3 companies folded – as in closed their doors. This community has a long history of that problem. Someone new comes to town, has an idea, opens a new business. The "successful" ones last a couple of years before they shut down. Now, I know that in general, only a small percentage of businesses succeed, but it sure *seems* like Fairfield has an even worse track record.
Wow, I really appreciate all of your insights! This is exactly the kind of debate that I hope to inspire around these issues.
Will and GLB, the FACC was, indeed, a factor in my family of 5 moving here and buying a home that was on the market for around 2 years (may have been more actually), attend Fairfield Public Schools, and try to buy as much as we can and frequent as many businesses as we can – locally. In talking to some big business owners in town, Agri-Plastics for one, they will echo the fact that, although in and of itself the FACC doesn't attract employees, it is part of the package and that's really the point for Will, you are spot on, this isn't about a facility being the solution to all of our problems – my gosh, nothing is. Managed correctly, facilities like this add to the quality of life. Not to say that Fairfield had a poor quality of life before the FACC, that would be a ridiculous statement, just that it is additive. Regardless, agreeing to disagree is totally fine here too
Surely GLB, regardless of what I or others may write, regardless of facts that I have or that others may have that, as a relative newcomer to town that I may not yet be aware of, there will be people who have always been and always will be against the Center. That is unfortunate, but that just has to also be OK. If we all agreed on everything we'd be living in one of those la-la lands that Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock visited.
My purpose for writing, being on the board, etc is simple. I believe that the Center is a great asset to the community. Not THE asset, but one of importance because, and I'm sure you'll agree Will, that, if managed correctly, that there is a positive ROI for the community. Thus the reason why cities like Denver has a performing arts center and more recently built a huge, costly convention center – which frankly had many more high profile detractors than I sense for the FACC – which went to a public vote, passed and now that it has proven its success, has more supporters than detractors.
So here's the bottom line. The past is the past. There are people who felt left out and hurt, and I apologize for that. There is new management, a new board, a new sustainable business plan, and a new outlook. With these in hand, we have two choices as a community – give the new team a chance to save this asset and not put a permanent black eye on Fairfield, or to let it die and worse yet, to allow what would be a significant debacle to become a major minus for those wanting to move and work here, start a business here, move a business here, and potentially, even staying here.
Well I thank you for your heartfelt and candid replies, GLB. I hope we meet minus FV aliases sometime, haha. Agreeing to disagree is the new win-win, so I think we're good.
There are 25 highlighted events on the FACC website. 12 of those events are the Chamber Music Society events. This Society existed before the FACC and the performances were in smaller, more intimate settings and the cost was lower. The quality of my life is not improved by moving those events to the FACC. I am not asking for a response from the Chamber Music Society. I understand why they would move the events to the FACC, etc. As we were preparing to move here from Minneapolis in 2007, we were attracted by the Chamber Society. It impacted our decision making – not the FACC.
We knew we could not replicate the full spectrum of events we experienced when we lived in LA, Chicago or Minneapolis. But, we were attracted by the talent in Fairfield and the small, intimate events scattered throughout the social calendar.
But, since the FACC does exist, when will the plan for 2010 from a programming perspective be put in place. Isn't it getting a bit late to get a full performing slate for 2010 if one is not already in the works.
The Executive Director of the FACC, Rustin Lippincott, is always hard at work trying to schedule events throughout the year.
I know of a couple events that are in the works are going to be rather large draws. One of which is the Saturday Night at the Sondheim Series. In January, the FMC takes the stage with a Motown-Themed Show. If you've ever been to any of the FMC shows, you are in for a huge treat. I've been to every one (not as a performer) and the quality of a program they put on is phenominal.
I also believe that Rustin is also trying to get the "Thunder From Down Under" back into Fairfield, after having to reschedule from their November date.
I could go on and on about individual shows, but suffice to say that Rustin is always looking for talented individuals to come in and perform for us. He has brought in some great acts, and wonderful performers, both locally and worldwide, and I can't see that changing any time soon.
Good point Saffi! What attracted you to Fairfield – your passion for the Chamber Music Society – is right in line with those who are attracted to the Center for a variety of reasons – WOB, high class meeting facility, and so many other events that take place there. The Center may be a little more money than the old facility for the Chamber Music Society but from what we hear, people love the facility so much that it seems like a wash.
Relative to programming, right now you're seeing some but certainly not a whole year worth of programming. As it happens the Chamber Music Society made up less than 10% of 2009 programs. A good number for sure! But with over 500 other revenue generating events, the diversity is there.
Next season is already in full swing, we're just not able to promote those events yet due to contract finalization. There is a summer series, WOB is planning their schedule, and one of the things we're doing to bring interesting/unique talent to town is to tap speakers and entertainers who are already touring larger cities – such as Des Moines or Iowa City – and then tempting them to come to Fairfield. Those opportunities can't be planned far in advance, and neither can other similar opportunities when we are approached "last minute." Believe me, Rustin, the Executive Director of the Center is on it!
Very interesting and relevant article Saffi, thanks! There is no doubt that these institutions, regardless of how small or large, are NOT easy to program, run, and keep in the black. One way to look at them is like the teaching of the arts in schools. Always the first to get cut, yet, research proves that kids who play music for example, get better grades. I was on a not-for-profit that ran an after school poetry program for underprivileged kids and the kids who were in it had higher reading AND math scores on standardized tests.
The point is that although they are not great businesses to own and run from a bottom line perspective, what they contribute to the community, not just in terms of soft benefits but in terms of hard dollars make it all worthwhile. Thus the reason why all of the cities referenced in the NYT article have them in the first place.
Not a stupid question at all Alice! There IS a parking lot behind the center that got caught up in the "value engineering" I mentioned in my initial post. One of these days, we WILL have enough money to gravel or at least pave it as was the original plan. It may not solve all parking woes, but it will help a lot!
The FA&CC was placed downtown after a feasibilty study determined this location would have positive economical impact on our community – this coming from City Council members. The board had concerns about parking to start with also – until we walked a two block radious of the site with our architect and counted over 700 parking spaces. This did not include private lots, or the new & improved parking lots in last couple of years.
I know I am a little spoiled myself being able to pull up and park very close to the business I want to enter. In Fairfield, we never have to walk very far – and it's good for us.
Hi Frank,
Thanks for getting the conversation started again. The history of how we got here IS important. As well as our plans for the future which, amongst other things are to run the Center like a business with all of the oversight and controls in place that will enable it to succeed. The history and business plan can be found at http://www.FairfieldCenterInfo.com.
There is also a great article written by city councilman Myron Gookin, who has grown up in Fairfield and raised his family here. As Myron points out in this article http://www.fairfieldacc.com/wordpress/?p=334, the public-private partnership proposed does not add a tax burden to the citizens of Fairfield. On the contrary, what it would do is to redirect a small portion of taxes that are already set aside from such endeavors, to the Center. And in return, the city would be part owner of the Center.
I'm interested in what you mean by your comment about "simple math". In the business plan, the case has been established that shows that the Center can, and will, succeed as a business. What are you referring to exactly?
Looking forward to your response and thanks again for re-starting the conversation!