City Council will vote Thursday to let the nonprofit Greater Ocean City Theatre Company use a city-owned building at 15th Street and West Avenue as a new home.
Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize a five-year lease for $1 a year. The public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at City Hall.
“The property is a vacant building which has not been occupied by city personnel in approximately four years” and “is not currently needed for municipal use,” according to the proposed ordinance. It had been used most recently for the storage of records and city equipment.
The local Ocean City Theatre Company would create a performing arts facility used to run its youth theater camps for the city, to stage rehearsals for its full calendar of productions throughout the year, and to create a base for costuming and props.
The lease deal would allow the nonprofit to consolidate “four different locations on the island under one roof and to function with a little more financial stability,” according to Ocean City Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Hartman.
OCTC is funded entirely through ticket sales and donations. The company produces musicals with professional talent, and it runs a junior company that features area youth. OCTC performers are a staple of parades and events throughout the year, and OCTC runs educational programs in the local schools.
The proposed lease (see Agenda Packet for the full text of the lease and ordinance) requires OCTC to accept the property “as is,” and pay for utilities, repairs and maintenance.
