Because of a recent decision by the East Haddam Planning and Zoning Commission, Goodspeed Opera Company will remain in its original home. The unanimous approval of village district zoning codes reversed Goodspeed’s June announcement that it would move to Middletown.
Middletown officials were waiting for a memorandum confirming that Goodspeed would relocate to their city.
“We’re happy these regulations passed,” said Dan McMahon, a Goodspeed spokesman. “It shows that East Haddam wants the theater to be there.”
“Goodspeed has reversed speed,” said Domenique Thornton, Mayor of Middletown.
The new zoning codes now make Goodspeed’s proposed theater, actors’ housing, and expanded parking possible in East Haddam. The codes permit the envisioned theater to be as tall as the landmark opera house and have 95 percent lot coverage. Prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission’s Jan. 11 vote, the theater’s plans remained unclear, according to the Hartford Courant.
McMahon said, however, that Goodspeed was not completely satisfied with some of the language the commission used in establishing a village district, but stressed it wouldn’t break the deal. The commission, he said, added a layer of oversight to construction standards already governed by the Historic District Commission, which will make the approval process that much harder.
Now that Goodspeed has attained its needed zoning specifications, it can begin to prepare its more detailed application for the 700-seat satellite theater, which would be located at the former Williams Chevrolet site, according to the Hartford Courant.
According to McMahon, Goodspeed still has not established a timetable for submitting this application to the planning and Inland Wetlands panels and the Historic District Commission. Both of these boards must approve construction of a new theater before planning can become official, according to the Hartford Courant.
“It represents a change in the momentum for East Haddam,” McMahon said. “It demonstrates a renewed effort for the commission to publicly support our project.”
While this is a step in the right direction, Thornton said that she has not completely closed the door on Goodspeed. It has taken three years for East Haddam to reach this resolution, and she thinks it will take many more before these boards will reach any conclusion in the matter. She says that if Goodspeed had accepted Middletown’s offer, building could of the theater have begun immediately.
Middletown and East Haddam have both been vying for the theater to build in their community using property, financial, and even parking incentives. While Goodspeed had announced in June that it would move to Middletown, it indicated that it might reconsider this decision last November, according to the Middletown Press.
Goodspeed had been offered 10 million dollars and two downtown sites, which included the Capitol Theater and the parking lot next to City Hall, according to Thornton.
McMahon adamantly denied that Goodspeed was trying to prompt East Haddam to act upon its desire for a new theater with its announcement of plans to move to Middletown. McMahon said that Goodspeed has not ruled out a move Middletown.
“Middletown is a great option,” McMahon said. “We are in no way trying to play one town against another. At this point we are going to go through the process in East Haddam. We haven’t ruled any option out yet.”
Thornton remains optimistic in the matter, but contends that Middletown is an up and coming city.
“Middletown is a cultural center and we’re not waiting for them,” she said. “We’re going to continue to build up Middletown.”