Saturday, August 11, 2012
AMS Planning and Research gave early recommendations to the 311 W. Main Task Force in Lansdale Thursday night on what could be developed at the former arts center
The 311 W. Main St. former arts center needs between $3 million and $4 million to fix code issues, but whomever runs the facility will break even in the first five years. AMS Planning and Research gave early recommendations to the 311 W. Main Task Force Thursday night for the future of the former arts center. Recommendations were culled from surveys, community interviews and market research. According to a report in The Reporter, the bottom line is the borough needs to front a lot of money to fix the center, but a revitalized arts center could be a success in Lansdale. According to the article, the task force now needs to mull over the recommendations and continue discussions on what to do with the building before bringing a solution to …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
AMS Planning and Research said it is not contracted to recommend to the 311 W. Main Task Force how and where to raise funds to cover the cost of renovations
Show me the money. Not yet. The 311 W. Main Task Force found out Tuesday night that arts consultant AMS Planning and Research is not contracted to recommend how and where the borough can raise funds to cover the cost of renovations for the potential arts center in Lansdale. Following a lengthy presentation on the results of AMS Planning and Research's interviews with community leaders and a market analysis, task force member Bob Willi asked why nothing was in the presentation about raising money. "The code violaitons we have in the building right now and the money we need to get it up and started, I didn't see anything in this report about that," Willi said. Lynette Turner, of AMS Planning and Research, said the presentation feedback …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Got 10 minutes? AMS Planning and Research asks potential users of the 311 W. Main arts center to take a brief anonymous survey to find out their wants and needs - and you can win prizes too
It was revealed Wednesday night at the 311 W. Main Task Force meeting that the primary market for successful potential users of the future Lansdale arts and entertainment center is within a 15-minute commute from the borough's downtown. That's the radius where AMS Planning and Research Corp., the Connecticut firm hired by the task force as its consultant, will focus its market analysis for the renovation and programming of the former Masonic temple on Lansdale's Main Street into a community arts and entertainment mecca. But the firm cannot rely on that analysis alone -- an analysis that relies heavily on The Nielsen Company's PRIZM model, a geo-demographic market segmentation for the suburban Lansdale area. (Nielsen is the same company …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Residents, business owners and government heads discuss, in small groups, their visions and outcomes of a renovated arts center
A gathering of some 50 diverse citizens, residents, business owners, borough employees and elected politicians resulted in shared wants for the future of 311 W. Main Street. They want a movie theater, showing indie and classic films. They want dance recitals and theater performances. They want a self-sustaining asset, with programming seven days a week, all day, for all ages. They want touring musicians and an intimate standing-room-only concert stage. They want people to stop, park, shop and come back. They want Ambler and Doylestown to come there for entertainment. Heck, they want a parking problem. Lynette Turner, of AMS Planning and Research, led a group activity Tuesday night during the 311 W. Main Task Force meeting. In small …
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
AMS Planning will conduct a survey and interviews with potential users over the next five months
The direction and future of 311 W. Main Street will be revealed by the end of August. By that time, the 311 W. Main Task Force will have a final report and recommendation from AMS Planning on how to move forward with the programming, management, funding and other options for 311 W. Main Street in Lansdale. The consultant's first task was to get public input from those who care about the future of the building. It did just that at the Tuesday night task force meeting at the parks and recreation building. While a light turnout - about one-three-hundredth of the entire population of the borough attended - it didn't detract from the purpose of the meeting. Lynette Turner, of AMS Planning, said the public input was the first step in the …
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Connecticut research firm was hired as the consultant for the 311 W. Main Task Force. It meets with the public tonight
The new arts consultant for the 311 W. Main Task Force meets with the community for feedback and input at 7 p.m. at Lansdale Parks and Recreation. 1. Minutes from the previous five 311 W. Main Task Force meetings are available at Lansdale Borough Hall. There are only two meeting minutes available online at the following links: Dec. 13, 2011 and Feb. 7, 2012. Check out what's been on record for the wants of the building. 2. Lansdale is rich in the arts: music, theater, visual and film. It and its neighborhoods are the hometowns of Little Peggy March, John Oates, Andrew Bryniarski, Liza Weil, and Jay Caulfield. Not to mention some of the members of Dysphoria, Chine, Ladder Devils, Wonder Years and Pillars of Villiany. And there's writer …
Monday, April 9, 2012
AMS Planning holds a community outreach session tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the parks and recreation building.
It can't be said any plainer - if you want a say in what you want to see done with the former arts center and former Masonic Shiloh Lodge at 311 W. Main Street, then you need to be at the parks and recreation building at 7 p.m. tomorrow. At that time, the new arts consultant to the 311 W. Main Task Force will listen to feedback from the community community about the renovation and revitalization of the building. Do you want a movie theater for independent films? Do you want an art studio? Do you want practice areas for orchestras? A place for local bands to play on the weekend? Let AMS know tomorrow. AMS Planning & Research will hold the session on April 10 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the borough Parks and Recreation building. The …
Tony Di Domizio
12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Right, but you're still regional, at least within 30 minutes from downtown Lansdale. more ›