RICHMOND -
In its heyday, Jackson Ward's Hippodrome Theatre pulled in the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Many Richmonders remember the long lines that stretched along 2nd Street as fans waited to see their favorite performers.
Through the years the historic building has fallen into disrepair. Now there are new plans on the table to revive the Hippodrome and the adjacent Taylor Mansion. City council members received a request from city administrators to allocate roughly six hundred thousand dollars to help finance the project. Charles Samuels, whose second district includes parts of Jackson Ward tells CBS 6 the developer will pull in funds from state and federal tax credits, investors and possible a half a million dollars from the City of Richmond. He says the project's total cost is around twelve million dollars.
"The council must look at all the numbers and see that it makes sense" says Samuels. He says he believes reviving that area will breathe new life not only into Jackson Ward, but the city. If the council approves the agreement, the city will fork over four installments of one hundred fifty thousand dollars as developers meet certain construction timetable goals. If the project doesn't meet those goals, the city doesn't have to pay the money. Samuels also says if the the developer doesn't complete the project by September of 2011, the city's money would have to be returned.
Breton Pezelle tells CBS 6 he does not support the city using his tax dollars to help in the revitalization effort. "I think the theatre should be renovated, but I'm just not a big fan of my tax money being spent on that. Especially since there's a school nearby that needs alot of help. I mean, I think it would be cool to see the theatre back open, but maybe with private investor money" Pezelle says.
A few doors down from the Hippodrome Theatre, Marlon Smith, who waits tables and bartends at the Croaker's Spot Restaurant expresses his delight about the project "Anything that will help revive the community and bring jobs is a good thing" says Smith. Customer Ronnie Legett chimes in. "It's going to be a good thing, especially for those who are here who lived through that time and remember what it was like. This will be exciting, for sure" says Legett, who drove in to the city from Glen Allen to get a seafood dinner at the restaurant. Legett says if the Hippodrome project comes to fruition he and his wife will make it a point to drive in to show their support and enjoy some great entertainment.
Samuels says if the project moves forward there could be more than eighty new jobs created. He also says city council members are very aware that they must be good stewards of the taxpayer's money. "I think with the sales taxes, admissions taxes and property taxes that this could bring in, we would see a significant return on our money" adds Samuels.
City council could vote on this matter before the end of the year.
Through the years the historic building has fallen into disrepair. Now there are new plans on the table to revive the Hippodrome and the adjacent Taylor Mansion. City council members received a request from city administrators to allocate roughly six hundred thousand dollars to help finance the project. Charles Samuels, whose second district includes parts of Jackson Ward tells CBS 6 the developer will pull in funds from state and federal tax credits, investors and possible a half a million dollars from the City of Richmond. He says the project's total cost is around twelve million dollars.
"The council must look at all the numbers and see that it makes sense" says Samuels. He says he believes reviving that area will breathe new life not only into Jackson Ward, but the city. If the council approves the agreement, the city will fork over four installments of one hundred fifty thousand dollars as developers meet certain construction timetable goals. If the project doesn't meet those goals, the city doesn't have to pay the money. Samuels also says if the the developer doesn't complete the project by September of 2011, the city's money would have to be returned.
Breton Pezelle tells CBS 6 he does not support the city using his tax dollars to help in the revitalization effort. "I think the theatre should be renovated, but I'm just not a big fan of my tax money being spent on that. Especially since there's a school nearby that needs alot of help. I mean, I think it would be cool to see the theatre back open, but maybe with private investor money" Pezelle says.
A few doors down from the Hippodrome Theatre, Marlon Smith, who waits tables and bartends at the Croaker's Spot Restaurant expresses his delight about the project "Anything that will help revive the community and bring jobs is a good thing" says Smith. Customer Ronnie Legett chimes in. "It's going to be a good thing, especially for those who are here who lived through that time and remember what it was like. This will be exciting, for sure" says Legett, who drove in to the city from Glen Allen to get a seafood dinner at the restaurant. Legett says if the Hippodrome project comes to fruition he and his wife will make it a point to drive in to show their support and enjoy some great entertainment.
Samuels says if the project moves forward there could be more than eighty new jobs created. He also says city council members are very aware that they must be good stewards of the taxpayer's money. "I think with the sales taxes, admissions taxes and property taxes that this could bring in, we would see a significant return on our money" adds Samuels.
City council could vote on this matter before the end of the year.
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