In Sunday’s (7/25) Tennessean (Nashville), Nate Rau reports, “Mayor Karl Dean’s office is in talks with the management of the flood-damaged Schermerhorn Symphony Center about a cash infusion from [Metropolitan Council] that advocates for the facility believe is due. … Some council members believe Metro owes the symphony hall $5 million because of an understanding among former Mayor Bill Purcell’s administration, the previous Metro Council and Schermerhorn executives. Nashville Symphony President and CEO Alan Valentine said he has discussed with Dean’s administration the possibility of the symphony hall’s receiving Metro funds, which are badly needed after May’s record flooding. The symphony has received $15 million in capital funds from Metro, but the most recent installment came in 2007. Valentine said the plan agreed to by Purcell’s administration and the previous Metro Council was that Metro would provide $20 million in capital dollars. But on the advice of the city’s bond counsel, the final payment never came.” Purcell left office in late 2007. “The symphony hall, in the heart of downtown, was submerged under 24 feet of water and suffered $42 million in damage and interrupted business as a result of the flooding. Insurance coverage and federal assistance will cover much of the damage, but Valentine said there would still be a gap of $3 million to $10 million. … The venue is slated to reopen in January.”
Photo of the Schermerhorn’s damaged organ console by Alan Poizner
Posted July 26, 2010
