[B]URLINGTON — The closing of a popular downtown event venue has prompted a Burlington neighborhood group to launch a discussion to help determine the fate of the space.
More than 100 members of the Burlington community gathered Tuesday at City Hall to discuss the future of Memorial Auditorium at a meeting hosted by the Neighborhood Planning Assembly.
The meeting was intended to serve as a “firewall” between highly polarized groups who have very strong beliefs on the now-closed venue’s future, NPA chair Jim Holway said.
“We hope this is the first of many conversations,” he said.
When Memorial Auditorium closed in December, residents were left wondering what would replace the brick building built in 1935. The downtown site hosted events, including musical groups, as well as the winter farmers market for several years.
Many who spoke believed that renovating the original structure was essential to maintaining Burlington’s history. The building is located on Main and South Union streets.
Councilor Sharon Foley Bushor spoke about the value she found in the space after coming to Burlington to go to UVM.
She emphasized the low-cost entertainment options that the space provided her.
“I am very sad that we don’t value anything old – we tear it down and build something new,” Bushor said.
Bushor also said she believed it was the city’s fault that the arena fell into disrepair.
“I take responsibility because the city was a lousy landlord,” she said.
The space requires much work due to deferred maintenance, a cost that would cause taxes to increase, a NPA release stated.
Last year, Burlington was in talks with UVM about a possible joint-venture renovation of the auditorium. Ultimately, UVM decided to instead build an arena in South Burlington.
The city’s decision to ask UVM to help prompted questions surrounding transparency and community involvement in plans for the auditorium’s future.
Another portion of those at the meeting thought Memorial Auditorium’s meaning rested in the cultural development it allowed for, rather than the space itself.
Alan Abair, former property manager of the auditorium, said that he wants the city to renovate the space or build a new one.
“Burlington is the cultural center of Chittenden County,” said Abair. “If the city is going to take Memorial Auditorium, they sure better build us a new civic center.”
The potential deal with UVM sparked community activism beyond the NPA meeting as well.
James Lockridge said earlier this week that he will run in March for City Council, largely because he finds problems with the city’s “transparency and representation” and wants to get involved.
The mayor stated in a press release Tuesday that he would be putting together a team to address the future of Memorial Auditorium later this fall.
“In our history, Memorial Auditorium has served as a valuable assembly space, and as we pursue its revitalization and adaptive re-use, we should prioritize how the building will continue to serve that vital function for our community,” he stated in the release.
NPA Chair Holway said this meeting is the beginning of what many hope to be a revival of the grassroots, community-driven Burlington that Bernie Sanders created almost 40 years ago when he won election as mayor.
“Right now, people want to get a feel for, can NPAs redefine the way public process works?” he said.
