Twenty-nine people submitted public comments about the iconic art-Deco Municipal Auditorium in Charleston, West Virginia, which has been closed to the public because of unsafe conditions in the structure, which opened in 1939. Most commenters want the theater saved.
Charleston City Council approved funding, on May 20, 2024, to buy a piece of property and start the design process on a Charleston, West Virginia Fire Department headquarters. Council also approved funding to start the renovation process of all eight fire stations. Both projects will be fully funded by ARPA funds.
Patrick Leahy, general manager of the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, says he could do a lot with a new Municipal Auditorium. In a document prepared for the Municipal Auditorium Special Committee s meeting on May 30, Leahy estimated he could bring in about $1.2 million from the venue by increasing the number of ticketed events to 84.
Patrick Leahy, general manager of the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, says he could do a lot with a new Municipal Auditorium. In a document prepared for the Municipal Auditorium Special Committee s meeting on May 30, Leahy estimated he could bring in about $1.2 million from the venue by increasing the number of ticketed events to 84.
The 85-year-old Municipal Auditorium is in bad shape. And no matter how Charleston decides to proceed, creating a usable venue will likely cost over $25 million.
This was the gist of a presentation made to the Charleston’s Municipal Auditorium Special Committee Thursday afternoon. The committee is made up of City Council members and Coliseum & Convention Center board members.