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Wednesday, 27 June 2018 16:57

Mayor optimistic theater sale will go through

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The Roanoke Rapids Theater will be the topic of a special meeting Thursday night.

The city sent out notice of the meeting Tuesday and the document says the purpose of the 5:15 p.m. Thursday meeting is for City Manager Joseph Scherer and City Attorney Gilbert Chichester to inform council of the current status of negotiations for the sale and financing of the venue. The meeting will be held at Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall on Jackson Street.

The notice also says council will be asked to approve the sale and financing conditions offered by potential buyers Thomas and Evon McLean.

Scherer said this afternoon, “We’re not closing tomorrow, but we believe we are able to arrange financing conditions suitable to us. We believe we are getting closer to closing.”

He said there have been no changes made and the $3 million the McCleans have offered for the building remains on the table.

“I hope it’s going to be a done deal,” Councilman Wayne Smith said this afternoon. “We need to get rid of the theater and move forward.”

Smith has been vocal in his support of selling the venue.

He said what he knows now is the city manager and city attorney are supposed to go over the financial details of the offer. “I’m going to vote for it if it’s a good deal.”

Mayor Emery Doughtie said this afternoon, “I’m very optimistic about what’s happened in the last period. They really want to buy the theater. They have been trying to make it work for the best for all parties involved.”

Doughtie said the city manager and attorney will explain what has transpired during the meeting.

What exactly the discussion will be, the mayor said, “I think it will be best if it comes out in the press release.”

Doughtie believes the city is getting closer to a sale. “I’m very optimistic that the sale will go through. I think everybody involved has been working toward a means to an end. I think it will be good for the city, the residents of the city and the buyers of the property.”

Chichester was not immediately available for comment.

After a third extension was approved last month, council gave the McCleans until July 30 to decide to close.

 

 



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