Historic designation, flood-proofing suggested for Van Wezel

Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee reviewed a draft for a request for proposals during its Nov. 8 meeting, but not before hearing from several citizens suggesting it pursue historic designation for the 53-year-old Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. 

The committee's two-year mission is to recommend reuse of Van Wezel should a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center be built. And as members heard during the meeting, renovations are needed if the SPAC isn't built. 

The public speakers said a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, among other effects, would exempt the building from FEMA’s 50% improvement cost limitation, they said. That rule prohibits improvements to a structure exceeding half of its market value unless the entire structure is brought into full compliance with current flood regulations.

With the Van Wezel standing on the shore of Sarasota Bay on land created by fill material, flooding from a storm surge is a potential hazard.

Among the speakers was Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith. Along with fellow commissioners present or future, he'll play a key role in funding a new Sarasota Performing Arts Hall through approval of the county’s share of tax increment financing revenue generated by increases in property values in the bayfront area.

Smith said flood-proofing the building, as was suggested in the previous Karins Engineering report commissioned by the city, will comply with FEMA regulations, also exempting it from the 50% rule.

“When the Van Wezel gets flood-proofed, you don't have to worry about budgetary issues as far as any renovations that you would like to do,” Smith said. “(Karins) had estimated that the probable cost would be about $1.9 million, and that was in 2021, so you probably need to double it. The cost to renovate the Van Wezel, even with the flood-proofing, I believe will be the one-tenth of the cost of building a new performing arts hall. And as a county commissioner who has a fiduciary responsibility of all our tax money, that’s going to be a tough sell.”

The 13-page draft RFP cites a comprehensive review of several critical areas. They include:

• FEMA requirements: Ensuring compliance with FEMA regulations due to the building’s location within a flood zone.
• Florida Building Code: To ensure the building complies with the current Florida Building Code and city ordinances: 
• Structural analysis: An in-depth evaluation of the building's physical integrity. 
• Building maintenance: The development of a strategic plan for the regular care and preservation of the building.
• Maintenance plan: Develop a comprehensive maintenance plan.
• Functionality: Performance-related features of the Van Wezel that are crucial to its primary purpose as a venue for various artistic performances.
• Access and ADA requirements: Ensuring the facility is accessible to all users, which is a priority to meet or exceed the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
• Sustainability: Assess vulnerabilities and sustainability with recommendations for improvements.
• Progress updates: Maintain continuous communication with and updates to the city and committee.
• Cost-benefit analysis: A detailed financial assessment of all proposed modifications and upgrades, which will involve quantifying and comparing the costs and benefits of each proposed change to assist in decision-making and prioritizing expenditure.

The progress updates from the engineering firm are a critical aspect, committee member Charles Cosler said, because the future of a replacement for the Van Wezel is not yet certain. Should some immediate concerns arise, they will need to be addressed to keep the building functional and safe.

“The analysis has to consider the use of the building for at least the next five to seven years until the new building gets built and beyond, and that's an important point, because if something happens to it and it cannot be used, we don't have the arts the way they are now,” said Cosler said. “We're looking at what needs to be done to the building to keep it operational and safe for right now, and then what can be done with it later.”

City Manager Marlon Brown said that is precisely the purpose of those periodic updates on findings: to maintain the Van Wezel under its current function for the foreseeable future, and possibly longer.

“This building is probably going to be used for the next 10 years, and I don't know if we actually are going to have a new performing arts center,” Brown said. “All of those decisions are still to be made. If for some reason we don't have a new performing arts center, then it's this building in perpetuity, and so what do we need to do to keep this building functioning as a presenting performing arts hall.”