BREAKING NEWS: Orange County Legislature to Vote on Purchase of Sugarloaf Performing Arts Ctr. Today!

By Edie Johnson, Executive Editor

Goshen - The OC Legislature has already taken one vote and was overwhelmingly in support of purchasing the struggling SLPAC from the Town of Chester. Managing a huge Art & Film Center in a small historic hamlet is a major challenge. And while the public has loved many of the performances given there, the task of maintaining consistent top attractions throughout the year and attracting consistent attendence has proven to be too much, and after several rounds of management teams and requirememts for some very needed upgrades to the facility's structure, it needs help.

With County Executive, Steve Neuhaus being a Chester Native, he has long held some favorite ideas that he hoped could be implemented there. Now seemed like the perfect time to step in and take charge. So he took a preliminary legislative vote, got the support he was hoping for, and came up with a business plan to take on the repairs and facility mortgage for an estimated $1,341.625.83. At today's July legislative session there will be an official vote to approve Neuhaus to make the offer official and set the plan in action.

Some of the CE's goals include contionued free movies for veterans, free classic movies for senior citizens, and of course putting his team in action to attract a greater audience of art, play, music and film. With the film industry really taking off in Orange County, and famous actors and actresses living in the area, he hopes to invite them to participate, not only in shows, but in educational opportunities for others hoping to break into the entertainment industry. And with the area's Tourism Industry growing like hotcakes, and the facility already having an expansive kitchen, he thnks a culinary education program could be in the mix as well.

The agreement with current management and the Town of Chester includes a provision to make a best effort to continue offering whatever shows are already in the SLPAC existing schedule. With over 8.8 acres included in the purchase and including an expansive parking lot with 900 spaces, and 5 venue spaces including outdoor facility, we think this project has a 99.9% chance of being an immense success, and hope to assist the greater Orange County community to support it,

Stay tuned for an update tomorrow on any other plans for the New Sugarloaf Performing Arts Center, that may be presented at this afternoon's meeting and check the details below about the business plan that will be voted on at today's 3:30 meeting at the Orange County Government Center.

Editor's Note: I have a special affection and hopes for this plan. In July of 2013 near the end of my mother's 94-year life, one of the 2 last outings we were able to take was a musical presentation of the songs from the show "Annie" by Andrea McArdle. With extraordinary help from SLPAC Staff, they maneuvered her wheelchair into the very best viewing spot and made sure it was the perfect event that it could be for her, including helping cheerfully negotiating the crowd leaving while chatting with her. She even briefly sang along, singing TOMORROW along with the audience and loudly yelled out "YAYYY!!" at the end. Let's see how many older and specially challenged citizens we can help experience that kind of joy, right here in Orange County, and young people to get a "leg up" on their dreams.

1. Legislature Agenda Item for Today's SLPAC Vote

ORANGE COUNTY LEGISLATURE Committee: Sponsors: Co-sponsors: Ways and Means Ehlers, O'Donnell RESOLUTION NO. OF 2025 Agenda No. 3 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF THE SUGAR LOAF PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN THE TOWN OF CHESTER AND MAKING A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO THE 2025 ORANGE COUNTY BUDGET FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REAL PROPERTY TAX SERVICES OFFICE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.09 OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CHARTER. WHEREAS, the Real Property Tax Services Office is seeking approval for the purchase of the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center from the Town of Chester. The property is a community theater building totaling 19,896 square feet on 8.77 acres, located at 231 Creamery Pond Road in the Town of Chester (Section 13, Block 3, Lot 5). It was completed in 1993 and includes 600 f ixed seats and 89 balcony seats for the main theater, and an attached pavilion with a capacity of up to 260, depending on configuration. The purchase price is $1,341,625.83, which represents the Town's acquisition loan plus interest; and WHEREAS, the Town of Chester is proposing that the County would honor the existing bookings up to the closing date to allow the events to continue while the property transitions f rom Town to County ownership. The County would be responsible for all bookings after the c losing date; and WHEREAS, this Legislature does wish to provide funds in the amount of $1,341,625.83 f rom surplus to the Real Property Tax Services Office for said purchase. Upon approval, a new Capital Project will be created. NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby RESOLVED, that the Real Property Tax Services Office is hereby approved for the purchase of the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center from the Town of Chester as stated above, and the County Executive is hereby authorized to sign all necessary documents to effectuate said purchase, subject to the review and approval of such documents by the County Attorney; and it is further RESOLVED, that the 2025 Budget for the Orange County Real Property Tax Services Office is hereby supplemented as stated above and as indicated below, to be used for said purchase; and it is further RESOLVED, that the Commissioner of Finance, together with the Director of Budget, is hereby authorized to make such modifications forthwith. Revenue: 1010 995001 415961 Surplus $1,341,625.83 Expense: 1010 995001 685350 To Capital Revenue: 1 100 719701 450311 Interfund Transfers In Expense: 1 100 719701 577010 Capital Expense APPROVED: JULY 1, 2025 STEFAN "STEVEN" M. NEUHAUS, COUNTY EXECUTIVE 205