DERBY — Firms interested in creating a comprehensive plan for the restoration of The Sterling Opera House have the chance to inspect the building at 10 a.m. on Dec. 16.
The optional walk through is part of the “request for proposals” (RFP) the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen voted to publish on Nov. 20. The document is a solicitation for firms to create “a comprehensive assessment of current operational requirements and necessary capital improvements to the Sterling Opera House.”
The ultimate goal is to find out what specific work is needed to repair the building so that it can be used again.
Once upon a time the opera house was a performing arts center – and then it was city hall and the city jail. It’s sat vacant for decades next to the Superior Court building on Elizabeth Street across from the Derby Green.
A group – the Sterling Opera House Committee – has been spearheading the effort to get the place fixed up and available to residents again. They started as a group of residents with an interest in the building, but are now a formal committee of the local government. The committee was able to snag a $100,000 state grant thanks to state Rep. Mary Welander.
Meanwhile, an offshoot of the group is working to establish a nonprofit group in order to collect private donations for the work.
The committee met on Nov. 25 in Derby City Hall to update members and the public on the RFP. The group also talked about holding a gathering at some point early next year at Twisted Vine to raise awareness about the cause, and to possibly collect donations if the nonprofit organization is officially established.
Click the video above to watch the meeting.
If you want to learn more about the committee, attend the next meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 in Derby City Hall.
