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SORG

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Manager
Forum Description: Discuss the city manager administration including all city departments.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5391
Printed Date: Dec 22 2024 at 3:35am


Topic: SORG
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Subject: SORG
Date Posted: Jul 30 2013 at 7:35am
Posted: 3:55 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2013

Sorg Opera House to be rededicated in September

By http://www.middletownjournal.com/staff/eric-robinette/" rel="nofollow - Eric Robinette

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN —

The group restoring the Sorg Opera House will celebrate the building’s 112th birthday in September with a re-dedication ceremony.

That ceremony is slated for 7 p.m. Sept. 12th — the anniversary of the original opening. There will be an outdoor concert, called “Save Our Sorg,” with the popular Cincinnati bands G. Miles and the Hitmen and Bluebird’s Big Band both scheduled to appear, said Denise Brodsky, a spokeswoman for the group restoring the opera house and the Commercial Building.

It will be a fundraiser for ongoing restoration efforts that will kick into high gear next January if all goes as planned, officials said.

“We’re meeting with the architects to go over building design and determine what fundraising needs there are. We’re actively pursuing grants outside of Middletown,” Brodsky said.

Sorg Opera Revitalization Group (SORG) has been successful with a grant inside Middletown, with the group receiving an $5,725 grant from the city’s Facade Grant Program. That project, costing a total of $11,450, will replace the first floor doors, which have been broken for some time, with safety glass. Various broken windows in the property will also be replaced.

In May , SORG also received a $1,886 check from Stained 1054 Bistro towards their restoration efforts, which have netted more than $6,000. And even bigger monetary influxes may be coming down the pike.

SORG is applying for historic tax credits with a total pool of $60 million. If the organization gets those credits when the distribution is announced in September, the major renovation work will begin in January 2014, Brodsky said.

More than $327 million in tax credits have been awarded to 156 projects in Ohio, including nearly $5.9 million for five projects in Hamilton.

The city has been “very generous” toward SORG and its efforts, donating a mobile stage to the event to be held outside the opera house on 63. S. Main St. SORG does not yet have an occupancy permit to hold performances inside the building, Brodsky said.

Tickets are not yet on sale for the September fundraiser, but when they are they will cost $15 for presale and $20 at the door, she added.

Walt McRee, one of the partners of SORG said, “We’re off to what we think is an exciting beginning … It’s been quite invigorating to see the kind of support Middletown has generated.”




Replies:
Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Jul 30 2013 at 3:21pm
"And even bigger monetary influxes may be coming down the pike."

You could say just about anything as long as you say 'may'. 

Obama may be invited to say a few words at the dedication.
Donald Trump may donate millions and setup a new casino hotel downtown Middletown next to the Sorg Opera House.
Chris Carter may campaign NFL players to visit and donate.

Of course these things may not happen too.



-------------
http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle

Middletown USA

News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio.


Posted By: TonyB
Date Posted: Jul 30 2013 at 5:53pm
It would be nice for the dedication of a Middletown landmark to have entertainers from Middletown! There are plenty of fine musicians that live right here; why aren't they being asked to perform?



Posted By: Miss Kitty
Date Posted: Aug 03 2013 at 12:01pm
I wonder how much the city is going to pay?


Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Aug 03 2013 at 12:13pm
I think the new owners thought that they would be greeted by more residents donating time and funds towards the resto effort and now congress may change the historical tax credits in the new budget that congress is taking up so that will hurt them badly.


Posted By: Historic House Guy
Date Posted: Aug 03 2013 at 4:47pm
They've actually gotten a lot of help from locals and the place is really starting to look like it's getting somewhere now. Not much in the way of restoration has gone on yet but the clean up efforts have made great steps towards seeing its potential.

State level grants are due by Oct/Nov. I believe and are awarded in December. I hope they get a few bucks but you're right Bocephus, grant money has been shrinking almost to half of what was available just 6 years ago in every state I've worked in. Not sure what's going on at the Federal level but I'm sure it about the same as the states. I haven't even helped write a grant in about 4 years now.



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