Tuesday, April 10, 2001
The group will meet again April 23 to discuss the results of a questionnaire.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The community has begun charting the future of Packard Music Hall.
More than 50 people gathered at Kent State University Trumbull Campus on Monday to begin the planning process in hopes of generating more business at the hall and relieving the financially strapped city of its annual subsidy.
The group consisted of leaders of businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations that use the city-owned hall. Also on hand were city officials, a Trumbull County commissioner and KSUTC dean, Dr. David Allen.
Packard Band trustees, who oversee the music hall, and KSUTC have been collaborating to find ways to make the hall self-sustaining.
Decreasing subsidy: The city's annual subsidy has been waning in recent years because of a budget shortage that closed parks and resulted in layoffs.
The city this year debated cutting its subsidy altogether, but agreed to $75,000 through June 30.
If Packard trustees find a way to make the hall more marketable, the city will kick in another $75,000 to help with operations the rest of the year.
Jeffrey M. Gress, a consultant with ArtSpace Design Ltd. of Newark, the group hired to help the city design a strategic plan for the hall, passed out a questionnaire to garner input on possible uses.
The group will meet again at 9 a.m. April 23 in Room 117 of KSUTC's technology building to review the results.
The land for the hall in Packard Park on Mahoning Avenue was donated to the city in 1911 by the Packard family, instrumental in the local automobile industry.
It has been used for years for concerts, lectures, dance recitals, graduation ceremonies, fund-raising events, theater productions, fashion shows and an annual charity ball.
Possibility: The group discussed making the hall a multiuse facility to house conferences, banquets, awards assemblies, trade shows, an art gallery, wedding receptions, sports events and meetings.
Mayor Hank Angelo said renovations must be made to elevators, dressing rooms and seating to better accommodate patrons, including people with handicaps.
Funding was not discussed but the group touched on issues of staffing, ticketing, marketing, publicity and union issues that could stand in the way of using volunteers for some work.
Allen called the hall "a vital part of the community" and Packard trustee John Bentz said stakeholders are essential to the planning process.
Jean Tunstall, representing the nonprofit Altrusa organization, said a 28th annual craft show is scheduled for November and she's worried her group will have to scramble to find another venue.
"It's really a shame we have such a nice facility and it's underused," she added.
The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs has an ebony fashion fair Oct. 27 at the hall.