According to the issue dated week of 6/8-6/14 in the SARATOGA TODAY newspaper, front page, Proctors is in discussion to possibly take over, via purchase, the Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) in Saratoga. With the idea to expand in varying capacities. Article is a must read. Go to saratogatodaynewspaper.com for the complete article authored by reporter Arthur Gonick. This would seem a conflict involving City/County funds exploited to an area out of the realm/purpose of said intended funds. How this plan could be considered to be carried out really seems out of bounds for Proctors. It certainly raises ethics issues considering Proctors is supposed to enhance/profit the City/County and not another county. Perhaps ADMIN. here could post the complete article here.
This is no surprise. Fat Morris fled the imploding City many moons ago. Then he won a Patroon award from Mayor McCheese. Proctor's has it's finger in every pot because the DEM morons refuse to make them repay the millions in County loans. PILOT? What's a PILOT? That's for other nonprofits like Boys and Girls Club to pay.
Not surprised because OSM allready is involved at Albany high. Nice huh were paying taxes to "help out" other cities when our dam city is broke and a frigging mess.
Thursday, 07 June 2012 13:04 Universal Preservation Hall For Sale? Discussions with Proctor's; Other Organizations Expressing Interest Written by Arthur Gonick
SARATOGA SPRINGS – As the city prepares to welcome attendees to the Sixth Annual SaratogaArtsFest this weekend, Saratoga TODAY has learned that Universal Preservation Hall (UPH), one of the sites for this weekend’s events located at 25 Washington Street, has held discussions with Proctors Theatre in Schenectady that would transfer control of the historic High Victorian Gothic building that was first constructed in 1871. UPH has undergone an extensive and expensive renovation for nearly 10 years that continues to this day.
Due to the confidential nature of the negotiations, it is unclear whether UPH is looking to sell the building completely or is seeking a management entity to do its programming. This story is the result of several on and off-the-record conversations with well-placed local arts individuals, including several who are directly involved with the discussions between the two relevant parties and actual emails that confirm that such discussions have taken place. It is also known that Proctors officials have recently toured UPH as part of this possible transaction.
A potential deal of this magnitude may take a long time to effectuate under any circumstance and is complicated by the fact that UPH is continuing to provide a worship space for the Universal Baptist Church, which the UPH Board has made a commitment to preserving in perpetuity.
While the negotiations for this undeveloped transaction proceed slowly, one local arts organization felt they had been left in limbo.
Meg Kelly, executive director of Saratoga Children’s Theatre (SCT), has been seeking a permanent home for its summer camp and year-round productions that have been a part of the community since 2008. Ms. Kelly began discussions about renting UPH last March, and Ms. Teddy Foster, UPH Board President, made a presentation to the SCT Board of Directors. Ms. Kelly was optimistic about the possibilities and it appeared both parties were enthusiastic until one day in May, when Ms. Foster informed Ms. Kelly that discussions had to be suspended “due to an impending sale” in which Proctors was specifically identified, according to Ms. Kelly. “Frankly, I was very upset,” Ms. Kelly said. “Everything was going smoothly, and now I had to inform my board that we had no home for SCT this summer.” (Disclosure note: I am an advisory board member at SCT).
SCT currently has relationships with St. Peter’s School, Saratoga Spa Catholic High School and Skidmore College for the summer and the foreseeable future, but Ms. Kelly said: “We’re growing and the UPH space is obviously much better for our needs.
Ms. Foster declined to comment on the record about any negotiations. She did, however, say, “I was very sorry that it didn’t work out. We would have loved to welcome Saratoga Children’s Theatre, but we concluded that [UPH] could not accommodate their scheduling needs without impacting existing partners.”
Ms. Kelly countered, “Teddy had said that there were some potential conflicts with scheduling, like with some antique shows they had programmed, but we were more than willing to work around them. There weren’t very many conflicts
anyway.”
“And I wouldn’t presume to understand how they operate,” Ms. Kelly continued, referring to the UPH Board, “but wouldn’t having a tenant like us make it more attractive to a potential buyer? My only thought, fear actually, was that Proctors was going to come in with their own children’s programs.”
Ms. Kelly then contacted Mr. Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors, to inform him of SCT’s interest in UPH if Proctors took over. In a series of emails between Mr. Morris and Ms. Kelly, Mr. Morris was cordial and optimistically wrote “…I see a long-term relationship emerging…” but indicated, “…we are just talking, that’s about it…” and on May 22, “No [decision has been made] and not for some time.”
Reached in New York City by phone, Mr. Morris declined further comment.
So while the negotiations proceed slowly and/or languish, another possibility has arisen which may give this story a happy ending.
“This whole series of events made me think, why don’t we look into buying the building,” said Ms. Kelly. “We still need a permanent home, and we have a local commitment to the arts. If the [UPH] are offering a favorable deal to Proctors, and Proctors doesn’t want it, we’d love to talk to them about something similar.”
Should the deal with Proctors eventually be consummated however, it would represent a masterstroke with implications that could only be described as revolutionary. Proctors Theatre has recently completed its own renovations, including an infrastructure expansion of the back of its house that now allows it to welcome Broadway touring and other world-class productions. Additionally, Proctors has been cited as a lead spur that has resulted in the revitalization of Schenectady’s entire downtown area. With 2,646 seats on its main stage alone, it would in theory bring exponentially greater programming clout to the marketplace than UPH, which has a capacity that will only be about one-third of that even when completely built-out...........................................>>>>............................................>>>>...............http://www.saratogatodaynewspa.....nterest&Itemid=1
negotiations are confidential.......just like everything else........besides...Saratoga is booming on it's own....why do you think this is happening...
get into those pockets for more corruption and greed......Saratoga better think long and hard with this piece of the pie....
Morris should resign at proctors and become the ceo in saratoga. He should also sell his home in rotterdam and move to saratoga. He is pretty much out of options in schenectady. Schools, crime, taxes, jobs have NOT improved.
Remember that saratoga has the potential to be less expensive and more productive than proctors. Saratoga has 'real' businesses', they have the track, they have SPAC, less crime, a good school system.............basically a more upscale and not a dumbed down community.
I'd seek higher ground if I were Morris!! imho
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
They have been trying to 'connect' Saratoga and Schenectady for a while now........the only problem is that those who want to run Schenectady don't want to live in it......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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This is no surprise. Fat Morris fled the imploding City many moons ago. Then he won a Patroon award from Mayor McCheese. Proctor's has it's finger in every pot because the DEM morons refuse to make them repay the millions in County loans. PILOT? What's a PILOT? That's for other nonprofits like Boys and Girls Club to pay. 
