ANSONIA — Click play on the video above to watch an interview with John Marini, the busiest guy in the Valley.
Marini joins ‘Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast,’ to talk about two subjects: a ‘Godzilla’ double feature in Seymour, and a just-signed lease agreement between the City of Ansonia and the owners of the Ansonia Opera House at 100 Main St.
The lease agreement discussion starts 19 minutes and 47 seconds into the broadcast.
GODZILLA FOR A CAUSE
Marini is organizing a Godzilla double feature this Saturday, March 26 at The Strand Theater in Seymour to raise money for the people of Ukraine.
Tickets are $12.50 if purchased online in advance of the show.
Click here for tickets.
Click here for the event’s Facebook page.
This story continues after the Godzilla image.
An image from 'Sci-Fi At The Strand' on Facebook.
ANSONIA OPERA HOUSE LEASE AGREEMENT
The City of Ansonia signed a 30-year lease agreement Monday (March 22) with the owners of the long-vacant Ansonia Opera House at 100 Main St. The lease is valid until Dec. 31, 2052, at which point the opera house reverts back to the owners.
There are seven owners listed on the lease agreement, with the primary representative listed as Walter Kendzierski, whose family first purchased the building in 1983 for $56,000. Click here for a previous Valley Indy story.
In this photo from the official City of Ansonia Facebook page, Mayor David Cassetti (left) shakes hands with Walter Kendzierski, one of the owners of the Ansonia Opera House at 100 Main St.
According to the lease agreement, an unsigned copy of which is embedded at the bottom of this post for public inspection, the city will pay $1 a month rent. The city essentially takes over stewardship — for example, the city is in charge of finding and administering grants — of the opera house without taking ownership of the property.
The goal stated in the lease is to preserve and restore the opera house, which was built around 1869. To achieve that goal, the city will apply for federal, state or local grants.
THE LEASE
The lease describes a two-phase process:
In phase one, the city promises to apply for grants to replace windows on the Main Street side of the opera house (the street-level section of the building has commercial storefronts that are rented out — the opera house itself is on the building’s upper floors).
In phase one the city also promises to search for grant money to conduct a study looking at the environmental and structural conditions of the opera house. That study, if and when completed, will give the owners and the city a better idea of what has to be done to actually restore the opera house.
According to the lease, the city has two years to find the grant money.
In phase two, the city promises to search for grant money to create a master plan for the restoration of the opera house, and to make improvements to the structure both inside and out.
The city is in charge of administering any grants received, including the hiring of contractors.
The lease also states the owner is not responsible for any “costs associated with the repair, maintenance, renovation and/or upkeep of the Property.” The owner is also not required to give any money if Ansonia receives grants that require matching funds.
The lease also gives the property a fixed tax assessment that ties to the property’s Oct. 2, 2022 assessed value. The Ansonia Opera House is specifically defined as the exterior of 100 Main St.; the lobby and staircase leading to the second floor of 100 Main St.; the second floor of 100 Main St., and; the third floor of 100 Main St.
“This Fixed Assessment shall be effective as long as this lease agreement is in effect,” the lease states.
The lease agreement also grants an annual tax credit of $3,000 to the Ansonia Opera House owners.
Finally, the lease says that a deed restriction must be put in place that allows the Ansonia Opera House to be used only for “entertainment, educational and/or community functions for a period of 30 years.”
This interior shot of the opera house was shared on the Ansonia Opera House Facebook page in December 2021. Facebook.com/AnsoniaOperaHouse
In the podcast interview above, Marini says the owner probably could have sold off the Ansonia Opera House in order to be developed into apartments — a trend that is happening all along Main Street downtown.
However, Marini said the owners wanted to see the opera house preserved as something fitting its history.
The negotiations on this deal started last year. Click here for a previous Valley Indy story.
“I am so pleased we have been able to work out a public private partnership with Walt Kendzierski whose family has owned the opera house since 1983,” Mayor David Cassetti said. “It’s a great opportunity to revitalize this grand building and restore its historic character. It’s a win-win for all of us and will be a great addition to our ‘Ansonia Recharged’ efforts. We will work to secure resources to renovate this into an entertainment venue.”
The Ansonia Opera House has a Facebook page. The following statement was posted on Monday:
“Since 1971 the Ansonia Opera House has been sitting idle. Today March 21st 2022 marks the next chapter in this historic building. Thanks to the efforts of the City of Ansonia, building owners, and dedicated volunteers, we have signed an official lease with the City as part of the Ansonia Recharged initiative.”
A copy of the lease agreement is posted below, after the audio-only version of the podcast.
