An Anthony Mullin photo taken inside Sterling Opera House in Derby.
DERBY— Elected officials on April 24 gave Mayor Joseph DiMartino the green light to sign a contract with a New York firm to help the city figure out how to renovate and eventually reopen the Sterling Opera House.
The Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen unanimously voted to authorize the mayor to sign a $100,000 contract with architect firm Steinberg Hart. Aldermanic President George Kurtyka made the motion to authorize the contract be signed, which was seconded by Alderwoman Amy Pettinicchi.
None of the Alders commented on the matter, other than to give their stamp of approval to the contract. The meeting also drew no public comment. The meeting was adjourned in just under three minutes.
The new study that Steinberg Hart will embark on will include a review and assessment of the building, which will include looking at previous studies and evaluating everything from the electrical system to the plumbing. A needs assessment update will also be done, along with a new, updated market study. Recommendations on programming, capacity and amenities will also be made by the team.
A capital improvement plan to determine how much money it will cost to make renovations a reality will be the final piece of the study.
According to the contract, the study is expected to take about 12 weeks. A full report will be presented to city officials upon completion.
The effort to renovate the Sterling and bring it back to life has been spearheaded by the Sterling Opera House Committee.
The group has access to a $100,000 grant from the state secured by Rep. Mary Welander, and they recommended that Steinberg Hart be hired, along with a Sterling Opera House Consultant Selection Committee.
The Valley Indy reached out to DiMartino following the meeting to ask about what inking the contract with the consultant means for the future of the historic opera house on Elizabeth Street.
“I am excited to get the ball rolling and see what they come up with,” DiMartino said. “They’re going to do an analysis and find out what (the opera house) will need to bring it back to good standing. There’s a lot of history there. We’re hoping our downtown will be a very exciting place to be, and the Sterling Opera House could just add to that.”
The Alders on Feb. 13 voted to bring Steinberg Hart onboard as the project consultant. They formally voted April 24 to have the mayor sign the deal.
Derby issued a request for proposals for the opera house in November 2024.
Steinberg Hart was one of eight companies who vied for the chance to do the opera house study. The company’s history dates back about 70 years and has more than 300 projects in its portfolio, according to the proposal the company submitted earlier this year to city hall.
Some of the company’s past projects include The Pablo Center, a performing arts center in Eau Claire, Wisc., and The Children’ Museum in the same city. The firm also designed the renovation of Neidorff-Karpati Hall at the Manhattan School of Music, and the Harvey Theater at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
From 1889 to 1945, the Sterling Opera House was an entertainment mecca for vaudeville legends, internationally renowned figures and theater premiers, according to the city’s website. The venue attracted the likes of composer John Philip Sousa, dancer Donald O’Connor and master illusionist Harry Houdini. Lionel Barrymore, an American theater legend, performed with his famous relatives, John and Ethel Barrymore.
The Sterling operated as a theater until 1945, with its lower levels used as Derby’s City Hall, police station and local jail. It was vacated in 1965.
