January 24, 2008
I.M.P. Vows to Keep Fighting
Despite continued opposition, Montgomery County finalized a deal with Live Nation for a Fillmore music hall in Silver Spring earlier this week. The deal, opposed by some local businesses, non-profits, residents, and a few Montgomery County legislators, will give the company $8 million in city county and state funds for the 2000-seat venue, which will pay a discounted rent of about $90,000 a year to the county. The county expects the venue to bring in $1.1 million in state and local tax revenue per year, for a profit on about $700,000 after bond payments.
The company also agreed to a few more provisions, including county government use, a $3000 maximum fee for community events, a donation to the Celebrate Silver Spring Foundation, auctions, and giving the county executive six tickets to each event. Hopefully those tickets won't cause the same problems as the Verizon Center's government tickets.
But some, such as county councilmember Marc Elrich, remain opposed to the deal. He told the Post, "I still think it was a rip-off and we could have done better." Seth Hurwitz, owner of I.M.P., which runs in the 9:30 Club and other large area venues, is also still fighting the plan, taking his case to county and state legislators. He previously proposed building a similar venue with no public expenditures, offered to pay higher rent and has complained about the lack of openness to the process.
"We're continuing to respond to legislators' questions, both at the county and state level," I.M.P. spokesperson Audrey Schaefer said. "Many are concerned that there was no proposal process, others are curious as to why the county would not seek a better offer, especially considering the $400 million budget shortfall in the county."
Despite the seeming finality of the Live Nation deal, I.M.P. doesn't plan to give up.
"There are many, many steps to this and it's certainly not a done deal. We're staying fully engaged, and still hopeful that we will get fair consideration for our proposal," Schaefer said.
The Fillmore, to be located at Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue, is scheduled to open in July 2010.
Photo by jcsupersmith
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This is terrible news. I never dreamed I'd see the day when Downtown Silver Spring™ would go corporate.
I had been on the fence with this debate. But after being reminded that IMP offered to build its venue without government help, I can see why people would be upset with Fillmore/Live Nation coming in. Sounds like a lousy deal.
one more national corporate bullshit inorganic small business crushing chain for the wankfest that is downtown silver spring aka the disney world of suburban dc.
The reason that they did this is clear. Silver Spring originally wanted the Birchmere to open a location in Silver Spring. When that fell through, they went to Live Nation as Plan B because they knew that if they gave Live Nation the opportunity to enter the market and threw enough money their way, they would roll over when the county inevitably tried to regulate the crap out of them (which they seem have succeeded in doing). Having a real, unregulated club would be unseemly, and it might draw undesirable elements, such as the people that make clubs worth going to in the first place.
The worst part is that because Live Nation has so much market power in dealing with bands, they may end up getting a lot of the acts that might otherwise go to the 9:30. The thought of having to see an otherwise cool band in Silver Spring is really a buzz killer.
Nothing gets me so riled up as when suburban governments actively work to suck what little vitality exists out of their communities.
This is great news; it's such a pain having to go to Rams Head Live! up in Baltimore when a band I like is skipping DC. It's good to know I can get that sanitized, Wal-Marty McVenue® feel without leaving the beltway.
Oh you poor things, having to shed some of your world-famous D.C. cool by going to, gasp, Silver Spring to see a concert. You're too cool to take note of all the independent bars and restaurants and music venues, seeing as you're more preoccupied with your own image than what's actually around you.
Anyway, people in Manhattan have the same attidude of you D.C. rednecks as you have about Silver Spring, and it matters just as little.