The Greenville Planning Commission has recommended City Council approval of Centre Stage South Carolina’s application to rezone nearly 1.5 acres on Ebaugh Avenue for a second facility.
“What we are not planning on doing is any additional buildings,” Glenda ManWaring, Centre Stage’s executive and artistic director, told commission members last week.
Approximately 2,300 square feet will be devoted to office space, according to a planning staff analysis. The remaining 19,200 square feet will be allocated to a 225-seat performance theater, smaller rehearsal and performance spaces, set preparation and storage, the analysis said.
For a 225-seat indoor entertainment facility, 75 parking spaces are required, the analysis said. Parking will be provided in an adjacent lot and an undeveloped parcel on Ebaugh Avenue will be used for overflow parking, staff members said.
Centre Stage said it is negotiating to buy East Park Baptist Church’s property near East Washington Street and Laurens Road and expects to move forward with its plan to complete the purchase and begin renovations.
Theater officials said they are waiting on due diligence results on the site and will seek additional funding for the project.
Planning commission members last Thursday recommended council approval of rezoning the land from RM-1, single- and multi-family residential; OD, office and institutional; and C-3, regional commercial districts to FRD, flexible review districts.
Because the property is adjacent to a residential community along Ebaugh Avenue, planning staff said expansion of the C-3 zoning district wouldn’t be appropriate.
The uses included in the application, as required for a FRD district, are indoor entertainment and office, planning staff said.
ManWaring told commission members the arts organization, founded in 1983, plans to keep its main stage and a majority of performances at 501 River St. in downtown Greenville.
The new facility, to be called Off Centre, will be used for business offices, storage of costumes and props, rehearsals and teaching classes, she said.
Neighborhood residents have been supportive of the project.
“We’re thrilled,” John Rainey, who lives nearby on Traxler Street, told commissioners of Centre Stage’s plans.
