In 2007 the City of Auburn signed a 15-year-lease for the Auburn Avenue theater, convinced it would be part of the revitalization of the downtown core and become a hot spot for musical performances, musical theater, dance, dramas and comedies.

City officials insisted at the time that the theater could be influential supporting businesses and services that thrive on nighttime activities and draw new development downtown.

As of 2016, the lease on the theater is five years from expiring, but City officials are already looking ahead, wondering what to do about the building when Dec. 31, 2021 comes on.

Recently the City contracted with PARC Resources to complete a building, community and feasibility study for the theater.

At 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22 in the Council Chambers at Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main St., City staff will provide information to the council and options to explore before the termination of the lease. PARC Resources will likewise present its findings and options.

This interest dates back to a council meeting in 2013, at which Finance Director Shelley Coleman explained why the City’s Planning and Community Development Committee decided to take up the subject so early.

“We’re about halfway through our 15-year-lease, so we need to think about our program needs, where we are going to go with it and start planning now for what we’re going to do when the lease is up,” Coleman said.

Councilmember Largo Wales voiced her concerns at the time.

“We’re paying $75,000 a year for this facility, we are responsible for all of the ongoing maintenance and the repairs and everything else. At the end of the 15 years, we have nothing. And we need, as a council, to decide what is our commitment to, first of all, a local, whatever size, theater. Then, are we interested in one in this area? And if we are, at this specific location or another location? With the way property is now, and other things, it’s best to be doing bargaining and looking at those things when the market is low, and when we are not into crisis,” Wales said.

The Auburn Avenue Theater building, which began life as a garage or bus depot, circa 1914, was not exactly in the shippiest of shapes in 2005 when the City entered into its lease with J.B. Douglas, whose family had operated the building as a theater for years. In the first year of the City’s lease, various obstacles, including winter storms, a roof badly in need of reinforcement, and insurance claims slowed progress and poured salt on some of the early optimism.

Some people from the community hotly criticized the lease as a waste of money.

But with time — and especially in recent seasons — the City has discovered how to fill the seats.