As concerned citizens of Riverhead and supporters of our historic Vail-Leavitt Theater, we urge the Riverhead Town Board to halt the current sale process to The Jazz Loft and instead open a fair, transparent evaluation process for a local community non-profit that truly reflects the community's voice and best interests.

Why We Are Speaking Out

1.    Lack of Public Input: The Town Board's decision to move forward with The Jazz Loft was made without adequate opportunity for public feedback or a public hearing, despite clear calls from board members and residents to ensure the community's needs are heard before any final decision is made.

2.    Unfair Process: The sale was not publicized, and other qualified buyers were not given a fair chance to submit proposals. The process has lacked the openness and competition that our community deserves, with a bias towards outside entities from Stony Brook.

3.    Financial Concerns: The Jazz Loft's offer to purchase the property is $150,000, and the budget for renovations is $250,000, which is funded by county grants. In contrast, experienced theater developers Mark Chroscielewski and Thomas Glennon have conducted a thorough investigation of the property and provided a detailed budget demonstrating it will require about $1.5M in renovations for the building to address life safety code requirements and critical structural deficiencies identified by licensed architects, engineers, and the local fire marshal. They are budgeting $4 million for the restoration and modernization of the theater. The Jazz Loft’s funding gap is nothing short of a huge red flag destined to likely be a colossal renovation failure.

 

 

4.    Expertise and Vision: Mark and Thomas bring proven experience in restoring and operating iconic landmark music venues, including major projects in New York City, such as the Brooklyn Paramount Theater, Irving Plaza, and Warsaw. Their plan includes a diverse range of programming in collaboration with the legendary promoter Ron Delsener, who has programmed the Jones Beach Theater, Guild Hall, and Bay Street Theater on eastern Long Island. They will feature concerts, theater, film, comedy, ballet, and community events, including family-focused daytime programming, to deliver a variety of entertainment for a diverse multi-cultural Riverhead community.

5.    Community Support: The Suffolk Theater, School of Rock, Peconic Ballet Theater, East End Disabilities, and the BID as well as other local stakeholders, support an open process and the proposal from Mark and Thomas, recognizing the broader economic and cultural benefits their vision would bring to downtown Riverhead.

 

What We Are Asking For

1.    A formal Request For Proposals process and hold a public hearing to ensure the community's voice is heard and considered.

2.    Require the Town Board to retain industry experts to transparently evaluate the proposals from the Jazz Loft and any other alternative local proposals, presenting their findings based on financial viability, experience, and community benefit.

 

Our Historic Theater Deserves Better

The Vail-Leavitt Theater is a cornerstone of Riverhead's history and future. Its restoration and programming should reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of our entire community. Let's ensure this decision is made openly, responsibly, and with full public participation.

Email the Riverhead Town Board with your opinions:

townclerk@townofriverheadny.gov

mailto:townclerk@townofriverheadny.gov

Please take the entertainment and music survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FVG8CXK

Add your name to demand transparency, fairness, and a better future for the Vail-Leavitt Theater.

Together, let's make sure Riverhead's cultural heart beats stronger for generations to come.