We are writing to express our support for Clear Space Theatre Company’s project to construct a performing arts center at 413-417 Rehoboth Ave.
Clear Space has been a year-round cultural and educational organization in downtown Rehoboth since 2010, when it signed a lease at 20 Baltimore Ave. During that time, it has offered classes and summer camps to hundreds of children and adults, drew 17,000 patrons into the city annually for performances and participated in community outreach efforts, such as partnering with local nonprofits for benefit performances, partnering with local schools, such as HOB, to offer in-school art programs, and offering matinees to senior groups such as CHEER.
The positive community response and support has been key in their significant growth over the past nine years, but they have now reached a point where the current facility is inadequate to meet the growing needs of their programs.
Their proposal for a new performing arts center offers opportunities to serve the city with additional programming and classes.
Its proposed location provides an opportunity to remain in the business district of Rehoboth, while still allowing students and patrons to access the theater by public transit, car or on foot. That is a significant benefit for the businesses in Rehoboth as well, since 75 percent of Clear Space’s patrons dine in a restaurant or visit the Boardwalk as part of attending a performance.
In conjunction with the nearby Rehoboth Beach History Museum, Clear Space’s proposed new location gives Rehoboth an opportunity to create a “cultural” district.
These institutions are open year-round and benefit residents, visitors and businesses.
As for the parking and noise issues that have been mentioned, it would be a disservice to the community and visitors to have these issues prevent them from experiencing all the benefits that Clear Space has provided for nine years.
Since Clear Space’s activities are indoor and generally finished by 11 p.m., there would be limited disturbance of nearby residents.
Parking issues are endemic during the summer to any resort area.
Since a majority of theatre-goers in the summer stay within the city and generally walk to the theatre, the new location, which is also accessible by public transit, creates no additional parking issues. In the off-season, parking is simply not an issue.
If a 300-seat restaurant is not required to provide parking, why should a 250-seat theatre be required to provide it? On what basis are similarly situated businesses treated so differently? We feel that the code should be reviewed and made consistent.
We urge the city to work with Clear Space to find a solution that will keep this vital cultural organization in Rehoboth permanently for the benefit of its residents, visitors and businesses.
Elaine Faye and Edward Barberic
Rehoboth Beach
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