The 21st Century Master Plan, or 21CMP, was created in 2004 by Aspen City Council as a comprehensive planning effort by the Wheeler Opera House to address the needs of the Aspen area’s arts community through changes in the historic Wheeler and possible expansion of the facility.

In January 2009, the Wheeler received approval from Aspen City Council to contract with Princeton, New Jersey, based architectural firm Farewell Mills Gatsch LLC (or FMG) for Pre-Design and Planning Services for a possible Wheeler expansion. This is the most exciting development in the Wheeler’s history since the 1984 reopening of the historic facility, and a major step forward in developing the parcel of land immediately west of the Victorian building, which has been in discussion since at least 1974.

For over three decades, Aspen’s arts community has yearned for a centrally-located arts facility that could provide them with additional stage and rehearsal services, so that they could present their programs in a space every bit as dynamic as their performances and cultural events. While it will be a challenge to fit so many needs into one building, the changes that are being developed through the 21CMP will provide the best possible flexibility and resources for the benefit of all of our region’s arts groups, many of which have a national (and even international!) reputation for excellence.

At the same time, the Wheeler and the City of Aspen are dedicated to the idea of sustainable design, and recognize that a Wheeler expansion brings with it the opportunity to build the greenest and most forward-thinking theatre in the United States, setting a new standard for what a 21st Century arts facility can be.

The Wheeler recently received conceptual approval from the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission, and will appear before City Council on Monday, September 28, to request its approval of the conceptual design. This would mark a major milestone in the advancement of the 21st Century Master Plan and Wheeler expansion.

A FEW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - UPDATED SEPTEMBER 4

Q: I thought the land next to the Wheeler was a park. How can you justify taking away some of Aspen’s precious green space?
A: The lot next to the Wheeler, which we call the Wheeler parcel, is not a park. It was purchased in 1982 with the approval of Aspen City Council specifically for the future uses of the Wheeler (Resolution No. 15, Series of 1982). Because of problems with financing and design, the parcel did not get developed as part of the 1984 renovation, but there was always the expectation of developing it later, when funding and a better plan would be available.

Q: But wasn’t the Wheeler parcel purchased with Open Space monies?
A: No. The Wheeler was purchased with monies collected through the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), which became effective on January 1, 1980. By May 1982, when the Wheeler parcel was purchased, there had not been enough collection of RETT funds to pay the $550,000 price in a single lump sum, so the Parks Department loaned the money to the Wheeler, which was paid back as RETT collections came in. No Open Space monies were ever used for the parcel’s purchase.

Q: How can you consider such an expensive project when Aspen is suffering so badly from the ongoing recession?
A: Several reasons – the greatest reason being that the arts community has been waiting thirty-plus years for this expansion. Our cultural assets deserve a first-class venue so that they can do their best work for all of us. And the recession has created a unique opportunity to get this project done while the construction sector is depressed – thereby getting the Wheeler expansion completed at a significant savings to what the project would have cost in 2006 or 2007 – or may cost again in a few years.

Q: How can I support this expansion when I don’t know what it’s going to look like?
A: That’s why we need to get conceptual approval. Conceptual approval defines the size of the box – how big, how wide, how deep. Once that’s established, we really start to plan the expansion in earnest. Our team has spent many months collecting input from everyone – the general public, user groups, board members, Wheeler staff, Historic Preservation, Planning & Zoning – so that they can really get down to work on an exciting design that we’ll all be proud of. And everyone will still get the chance to have their voice heard, every step of the way – not because we have to listen, but because we want to listen. After all, you only get to build these things once - better make it great the first time!

Q: How much is all this going to cost, and how are you going to pay for it?
A: The creative team has been given a ceiling amount of $30 million, all-inclusive. We are aware that that is a very big number, and we expect that the final amount will be below that, with no hidden costs or surprises. At present, the Wheeler has over $25 million in RETT collections that could be applied to this project, with voter approval, and we expect that this figure will kee growing while we continue our planning and public approvals process. We may need to acquire a small amount of debt financing – up to $5 million – but that is a “worst case” number. We also know that there are members of the community that will want to donate to this expansion, and there are other vehicles for attracting grants and tax credits that we will pursue. No doubt about it, theatres are very expensive to build and just as expensive to maintain – but we have professionals and community advisors in place to make sure that we spend public dollars wisely, not just for now but for the future.

Q: I want to have my voice heard. How do I get involved?
A: That’s what we want to hear! There are a variety of opportunities – feel free to talk to our Wheeler staff, or visit with our Aspen creative partners Rowland + Broughton Architects. Attend our open house events – we’ll be having lots of them. Visit the Wheeler website, where we’ll be updating the public on our progress every step of the way. Attend City Council meetings and talk to your City Councillors. Above all – ask questions! We wouldn’t want it any other way.