Task Force to Decide Future of Performing Arts Center

The borough is moving forward on its plan to form a 311 West Main Task Force to help rejuvenate the moribund performing arts center.

On Wednesday, Borough Manager Timi Kirchner said the task force will consist of 11 members: Three members will be borough councilpersons, four will be appointed from the community, and another three are to be appointed from the arts and entertainment field.

Terms of the task force “last as long as the task at hand,” Kirchner said. She added that the borough would be providing all the resources necessary to help the task force, which serves as “an advisory body only."

The decision comes on the heels of a special meeting held Tuesday night where council was presented with reports that showed the former Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts has multiple building code violations. The base estimated cost of renovations and construction is $3.8 million.

"We’re not wasting any more time," Kirchner said Wednesday at an administration and finance committee meeting. She said the $3.8 million price tag could increase or lessen based on the costs associated with the project.

"It could be four times that amount, or half. The task force will refine those numbers," she said. "The purpose of putting a number out there ($3.8 million) is to essentially ask people in the community, 'Do you want this?'"

“We have a lot of different ideas,” she continued. “It’s an exciting task, but it’s going to be a challenge.”

In addition to advising borough council on building code matters, the task force will make recommendations on programming events, with the goal being “to make the facility a downtown destination that will promote the economic vitality” of Lansdale, she said.

Such recommendations should consider the role of both the public and private sector. 

Lansdale resident Joe Cionzynski said the borough should make the 500-seat venue larger to attract “bigger names.”

“If you want it to compete with other theaters like the Keswick and Sellersville, 500 seats won’t do it,” he said.

Kirchner said the borough would look at the “maximum usage” allowed at the facility, then added, “there are certain realities of that building we just have to live with.”

“This is why we’re having a task force,” added Borough Vice President Paul Clemente.