Valparaiso could soon take over Memorial Opera House
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The Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso could soon be under new ownership. Our partners at Lakeshore Public Media report the city is in talks to take over the venue, which has been undergoing renovations, from Porter County.
If an agreement is reached, the city would take over management of the building by the end of this year, and the county could transfer ownership to the city in December 2028.
“It’s in the heart of our downtown,” Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas told the city council on Monday. “We do events. We have a significant staff to promote, manage, sell tickets, and we think it’s an important facility for our citizens, certainly.”
As part of the agreement, the city would keep any revenue generated from the venue and be responsible for routine maintenance. However, the county would be responsible for covering the cost of any large-scale structural issues over $10,000 a year while it still owns the property.
The Porter County Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, which would allows the city to begin a 60-day due diligence period. Once that is complete, the city and county would then work to create a management agreement.
In July 2023, the Porter County Council approved $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support renovations to the historic building. A dedication marking the completion of that effort is scheduled for Sept. 13.