The bids came in and the plan to demolish the historic Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater and replace it with a modern duplicate is apparently stalled.
The institution isn't saying much, although a letter did go out to property owners that the board had considered the bids and was going back to the drawing board. It's been a major issue for a while, with a lot of opposition to the plan in a usually pretty tranquil place. Both sides agree the 120-year old Amp needs work, with one side saying it needs to go and the other side saying it can be modernized.
Committee to Preserve the Historic Chautauqua Amphitheater Chairman Brian Berg says the board isn't saying much.
"All the meetings are closed. There aren't even minutes, says Berg. "And, that's why governance is such an important issue and there hasn't been a track of record of sincerity and transparency in this whole process. So, we only know what they are telling us and based on what they are telling us, that the bids were too high. They are going to re-bid and strip down the bids."
Some of the greatest minds of the time have spoken in the Amp, in a room which isn't handicapped accessible and subject to much weather damage and wear of time. The replacement is supposed to look alike but be accessible and have modern electronics.