City Hall Seeks $500,000
To Redo Oneonta Theatre
By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
City Hall will seek $500,000 in state funding to restore the Oneonta Theatre, the former movie house at 27 Chestnut St. that has been on the market and unused for five years.
Mayor Gary Herzig received Common Council’s unanimous approval Tuesday, Jan. 5, to seek the money through the state’s Main Street Anchor Program aimed at restoring vacant buildings.
While there is no time-frame for approval or construction, Herzig said the priority is stabilizing the building.
“The theater is not only beautiful and vintage, it is a glorious piece of Oneonta’s history,” he said. “If the building could not be restored, it would be a loss that would never be recovered.”
Plans for the restorations would include maintaining the building as a theater. “It would be a place to have a variety of performances, including live stage and film productions within the community,” Herzig said.
He added, “It would increase the quality of life of our residents and also provide an asset and attraction to visit and possibly even relocate to the area.”
“We’re off to the races,” Herzig said as the motion passed.
He plans to complete the application prior to the Jan. 15 deadline. While there is no time-frame for approval or construction, Herzig said the priority is stabilizing the building.
“The theater is not only beautiful and vintage, it is a glorious piece of Oneonta’s history,” he said. “If the building could not be restored, it would be a loss that would never be recovered.”
Plans for the restorations would include maintaining the building as a theater. “It would be a place to have a variety of performances, including live stage and film productions within the community,” Herzig said.
He added, “It would increase the quality of life of our residents and also provide an asset and attraction to visit and possibly even relocate to the area.”
“We’re off to the races,” Herzig said as the motion passed.
He plans to complete the application prior to the Jan. 15 deadline.
