The Hudson Opera House, New York State?s oldest surviving theatre [1855], located in the heart of downtown Hudson, NY, is a nonprofit multi-arts center offering more than 1,000 programs, most of them free, to 52,000 visitors each year. The proposed project, which is a key part of the fourth and final phase the Opera House restoration, will complete the first floor, including the badly deteriorated historic Common Council Chambers and anteroom, for community use. The project will not only provide additional much-needed programming and exhibition space for burgeoning regional audiences, but will also provide important access to the second-floor performance hall, which will undergo restoration on a parallel schedule as the other part of this final phase. In addition, the proposed project will incorporate sustainable mechanical and electrical systems, which will maximize comfort, minimize impact on historic features, and save energy. This final phase will provide the region with its only 300-seat performance venue, which will bring additional tourist activity to Hudson, contribute to the revitalization of Hudson?s downtown cityscape, and improve the local economy. It will further confirm the Capital Region?s status as a destination of choice for world-class talent. Following this construction, the economic impact of the Hudson Opera House on the local economy is estimated to increase from $2.1 to $3.1 million in organizational and audience spending [Americans for the Arts/American Express Economic Impact Calculators].
Program Name:
Historic Property Acquisition, Development and Planning