ARNOLD HALL
Municipal Building and Equipment Authority
The City of Lee’s Summit, in partnership with a host of citizens and organizations representing various sectors of the community, is developing a plan to restore and reuse historic Arnold Hall on East Third Street as a multi-use cultural and performing arts center, serving Lee’s Summit and all of Southern and Eastern Jackson County.
The immediate goal is to raise $4.5 million in private and public funds to refurbish and redesign the building to accommodate the Martin City Melodrama troupe as the primary tenant with the intent of hosting other performance groups, public art shows and community events.
Longer term, the existing building could be expanded to accommodate additional various cultural arts uses. Such a state-of-the-art center could welcome local, regional and even national exhibitions and performances in a facility unmatched in this sector of the metro area. Students, seniors, community groups and others would be welcomed and encouraged to utilize the center for classes, meetings, performances and exhibitions.
COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE
The City’s 360 Strategic Planning Process set forth these three goals to improve the community’s quality of life:
- Commit to a cultural arts identity as an economic and community development strategy.
- Work to create a network of successful, sustainable, multidisciplinary cultural art spaces, museums, performance venues, and cultural districts that reflect our City's diversity, creativity, and history.
- Increase the quantity, variety, and quality of arts programming that is affordable and accessible.
The 2007 Cultural Arts Plan approved by the City Council and the 2006 Downtown Lee’s Summit Survey also confirm the demand for a performance and visual arts center for Lee’s Summit and the surrounding Southern/Eastern Jackson County area.
ARNOLD HALL - REDEVELOPMENT VISION
Arnold Hall would be remodeled and refurbished as the first phase of a more comprehensive cultural and performing arts campus in downtown Lee’s Summit. Phase 1 would include:
PROJECT SCOPE
- A large multi-purpose space suitable for live performances, exhibitions and other events.
- A dual use parking lot and outdoor performance and community use event space.
- Front and back-of-house equipment and facilities to support these activities.
- A remodeled public concourse and entry designed to also serve as a visual art exhibition space.
- Catering kitchen and concession areas.
- Administrative and box office spaces.
- Improved parking.
- Environmental building design that achieves metropolitan green/sustainability standards.
- Donor recognition areas.
PROJECT USERS
- The Martin City Melodrama will relocate to Lee’s Summit from Overland Park, KS. Martin City Melodrama will make Arnold Hall its home under a long-term multi-year lease agreement as the primary tenant.
- Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and Longview Community College arts, music and other performance groups will stage events at Arnold Hall.
- Community and regional non-profit visual and performing arts organizations will always be welcome at Arnold Hall.
- Various other non-profit community, civic, and educational groups will be invited to use the facility.
OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
- The City of Lee’s Summit will continue to own the property and building.
- A Community Advisory Board will be established to ensure broad community regional awareness and participation.
- Project development and future operations will be managed by an independent non-profit public/private organization in agreement with the City.
OPERATIONS
- Operating revenues are anticipated from a combination of sources including:
- A multi-year lease with the Melodrama.
- Facility rental.
- A potential endowment from private contributions.
- Sponsorships and naming rights of various aspects of the building.
- In-kind and/or financial support from the City of Lee’s Summit.
POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR CONSTRUCTION
- A capital development and construction budget of $4 million would be derived from:
- City contributions for development planning work.
- An investment by the Martin City Melodrama.
- Private contributions.
- Various State of Missouri tax credits.
PROJECT SUPPORTERS
These organizations believe a restored Arnold Hall can be a catalyst for regional cultural and educational activities, further downtown revitalization and economic development, and help build a more vibrant quality of life for our region.
- Lee’s Summit Arts Council
- Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce
- Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council
- Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street
- Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
- Longview Community College
- Truman Heartland Community Foundation
- Eastland Community Foundation
- Lee’s Summit Historical Society
- The Lee’s Summit Preservation Commission
- The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City
IN CONCLUSION…
To share your thoughts and opinions about this project, tell us how you think a group/organization you are involved with might use the facility, or even express your interest in assisting the project move forward, please do not hesitate contacting project staff by contacting the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council at (816) 525-6617 or email scunniffe@leessummit.org.
PS. And if you think the Arnold Hall Theater featuring the Martin City Melodrama will support the arts education of Lee’s Summit youth as well as continue the revitalization of downtown Lee’s Summit, then tell your neighbors and friends about the project and encourage them to get involved!
ARNOLD HALL
Municipal Building and Equipment Authority
The City of Lee’s Summit, in partnership with a host of citizens and organizations representing various sectors of the community, is developing a plan to restore and reuse historic Arnold Hall on East Third Street as a multi-use cultural and performing arts center, serving Lee’s Summit and all of Southern and Eastern Jackson County.
The immediate goal is to raise $4.5 million in private and public funds to refurbish and redesign the building to accommodate the Martin City Melodrama troupe as the primary tenant with the intent of hosting other performance groups, public art shows and community events.
Longer term, the existing building could be expanded to accommodate additional various cultural arts uses. Such a state-of-the-art center could welcome local, regional and even national exhibitions and performances in a facility unmatched in this sector of the metro area. Students, seniors, community groups and others would be welcomed and encouraged to utilize the center for classes, meetings, performances and exhibitions.
COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE
The City’s 360 Strategic Planning Process set forth these three goals to improve the community’s quality of life:
- Commit to a cultural arts identity as an economic and community development strategy.
- Work to create a network of successful, sustainable, multidisciplinary cultural art spaces, museums, performance venues, and cultural districts that reflect our City's diversity, creativity, and history.
- Increase the quantity, variety, and quality of arts programming that is affordable and accessible.
The 2007 Cultural Arts Plan approved by the City Council and the 2006 Downtown Lee’s Summit Survey also confirm the demand for a performance and visual arts center for Lee’s Summit and the surrounding Southern/Eastern Jackson County area.
ARNOLD HALL - REDEVELOPMENT VISION
Arnold Hall would be remodeled and refurbished as the first phase of a more comprehensive cultural and performing arts campus in downtown Lee’s Summit. Phase 1 would include:
PROJECT SCOPE
- A large multi-purpose space suitable for live performances, exhibitions and other events.
- A dual use parking lot and outdoor performance and community use event space.
- Front and back-of-house equipment and facilities to support these activities.
- A remodeled public concourse and entry designed to also serve as a visual art exhibition space.
- Catering kitchen and concession areas.
- Administrative and box office spaces.
- Improved parking.
- Environmental building design that achieves metropolitan green/sustainability standards.
- Donor recognition areas.
PROJECT USERS
- The Martin City Melodrama will relocate to Lee’s Summit from Overland Park, KS. Martin City Melodrama will make Arnold Hall its home under a long-term multi-year lease agreement as the primary tenant.
- Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and Longview Community College arts, music and other performance groups will stage events at Arnold Hall.
- Community and regional non-profit visual and performing arts organizations will always be welcome at Arnold Hall.
- Various other non-profit community, civic, and educational groups will be invited to use the facility.
OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
- The City of Lee’s Summit will continue to own the property and building.
- A Community Advisory Board will be established to ensure broad community regional awareness and participation.
- Project development and future operations will be managed by an independent non-profit public/private organization in agreement with the City.
OPERATIONS
- Operating revenues are anticipated from a combination of sources including:
- A multi-year lease with the Melodrama.
- Facility rental.
- A potential endowment from private contributions.
- Sponsorships and naming rights of various aspects of the building.
- In-kind and/or financial support from the City of Lee’s Summit.
POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR CONSTRUCTION
- A capital development and construction budget of $4 million would be derived from:
- City contributions for development planning work.
- An investment by the Martin City Melodrama.
- Private contributions.
- Various State of Missouri tax credits.
PROJECT SUPPORTERS
These organizations believe a restored Arnold Hall can be a catalyst for regional cultural and educational activities, further downtown revitalization and economic development, and help build a more vibrant quality of life for our region.
- Lee’s Summit Arts Council
- Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce
- Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council
- Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street
- Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
- Longview Community College
- Truman Heartland Community Foundation
- Eastland Community Foundation
- Lee’s Summit Historical Society
- The Lee’s Summit Preservation Commission
- The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City
IN CONCLUSION…
To share your thoughts and opinions about this project, tell us how you think a group/organization you are involved with might use the facility, or even express your interest in assisting the project move forward, please do not hesitate contacting project staff by contacting the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council at (816) 525-6617 or email scunniffe@leessummit.org.
PS. And if you think the Arnold Hall Theater featuring the Martin City Melodrama will support the arts education of Lee’s Summit youth as well as continue the revitalization of downtown Lee’s Summit, then tell your neighbors and friends about the project and encourage them to get involved!