Syracuse, N.Y. – The seats at the historic Landmark Theatre will be replaced in time for the opening of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’' next fall, thanks to a $2 million bridge loan approved Monday by the Common Council.
The loan for theater renovations was among roughly $10 million in federal stimulus money the council agreed to spend Monday.
City officials stepped in to help the Landmark because other funding for renovation of the theater’s seats and marquee has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, said Khalid Bey, councilor at large. Without an immediate source of cash, the renovations could not have been finished in time for the fall season, Bey said.
State lawmakers have promised $2 million for the project, but it’s a reimbursable grant payable after the work is completed. Theater officials have agreed to repay the city when the state money comes through.
Mike Intaglietta, executive director of the theater, said the more than 2,700 seats should be replaced by Sept. 30, when crews from ’'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are due to move in.
The show opens Oct. 12, by which time theater officials hope to have the new marquee installed also, he said.
The city of Syracuse will receive $123 million in stimulus money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Half of the cash is already in hand; the rest comes next year.
Mayor Ben Walsh has outlined plans for spending the money. The council on Monday cast votes on the first of Walsh’s proposals to come before them, approving roughly $10 million in stimulus spending. Besides the Landmark loan, the council appropriated:
· $4.5 million for a municipal sidewalk program;
· $1.3 million to pay for 2,000 kids to participate in enrichment programs from now until 2023;
· $300,000 for the new police athletic league;
· $677,000 to upgrade security in parking garages;
· $55,000 for a pavilion along the Onondaga Creekwalk at Meachem Park;
· $175,000 to replace the fence around Pass Arboretum;
· $800,000 to repair the Burnet Park pool and water feature.
Walsh had also proposed allocating $4 million to create a revolving loan fund for businesses to be administered by the Syracuse Economic Development Corp. That proposal was held for further study.
Many councilors support the concept but want to hash out more details about how the loan fund would operate, said Bey, who chairs the economic development committee.
“Today brings another big step forward in our city’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic,’' Walsh said. “The Common Council approved the first eight investments of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the people of the City of Syracuse.’'
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