Westfield nonprofit unveils Rialto reimagining, seeks NJEDA tax-credit grant and local backing

The Westfield Arts Collective unveiled conceptual renderings and an initial financing plan for a proposed Center for Creativity at the Rialto during the Westfield Town Council meeting, and asked the council for letters of support as the nonprofit pursues a large state tax-credit grant.

Bill Crandall, president of the board of the Westfield Arts Collective, told the council the project would convert the 100-year-old Rialto Theater into a flexible arts hub for film, live music, classes, a cafe and gallery space while preserving the building's marquee and street-facing character. "We are creating a home for our community to create, showcase, and enjoy the arts," Crandall said.

The presentation laid out the nonprofit's fundraising progress and timeline. Crandall said the group received an anonymous $5,000,000 donation in 2021, and that the organization's current target is "upwards of $25,000,000" in additional funds to realize the full project. Curti (a presenter with the group) described plans to open a limited portion of the building for pop-up events this summer to raise awareness and test programming.

Why it matters: The nonprofit seeks to use a state-administered tax-credit financing tool to accelerate construction. Winning award and monetizing that instrument would affect whether the project can proceed as designed, and the presenters asked the council to demonstrate local support as part of the grant application process.

How the grant route would work: Crandall and a presenter identified the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's CAFE program as the primary financing vehicle under consideration. They said the EDA awards tax credits that are distributed over five years and can be monetized to help secure short-term construction financing. The presenters said arts organizations can apply for up to $75,000,000 under current program rules, although the Rialto group expects to request much less.

Timeline and phasing: Presenters said the design and permitting phase would take about 13 months from the decision to proceed, followed by roughly eight months of construction; they characterized the full build-out as "several years" away. They also said the project team would look for phased approaches if the state program did not permit staged funding.

Operations and revenue: The presenters said revenue projections rely on a mix of rental income from classrooms and rehearsal spaces, ticketed performances, theater rentals, a cafe and art sales. Curti said the Collective has a five-year operating budget and plans for phased staffing to avoid starting operations at unsustainable scale.

Community involvement and next steps: Crandall said the group is actively fundraising, recruiting volunteers with fundraising and marketing expertise and pursuing corporate and foundation sponsors. He asked the council to provide a letter of support for the EDA application and said renderings and additional details will be posted at centerforcreativity.art.

Quotes from the meeting: "We are creating a home for our community to create, showcase, and enjoy the arts," said Bill Crandall, president of the board, Westfield Arts Collective. "The goal is to open the building up for fundraising events," a presenter said, describing plans for limited summer programming before construction. Acting Mayor Hackett thanked the presenters and urged residents to review the project website and consider support.

Votes at a glance: several council actions during the meeting The council approved multiple routine and project-related measures during the same meeting. Key outcomes recorded in the transcript: - Minutes (Jan. 28, 2025): Motion to approve minutes (moved by Councilman Dardia, seconded by Councilman Healy); motion carried. - Bills and claims: Motion to approve $803,228.36 (mover and seconder recorded in the meeting); motion carried. - Finance policy package: Council moved a six-resolution package covering (1) CFO warrant for January 2025 dog licenses, (2) CFO refunds for recreation department fees, (3) warrants for participant payments for the annual "Me and My Gal" dance, (4) approval of 2025 sewerage fees (no change), (5) amendment to a 2024 on-call traffic safety consultant contract to reconcile fees, and (6) award of contract for a replacement main pool cover for Memorial Pool. The package was moved as a single group and approved. - General ordinance (first reading) and stop sign ordinance: The council moved General Ordinance 2025-02 (first reading) and a separate ordinance to replace a yield sign with a stop sign at Lenox Avenue and Benson Place; the stop-sign ordinance passed on roll call (each recorded vote: Council member Daria: Yes; Tom McCullough: Yes; Kiefer: Yes; Saunders: Yes; Armiento: Yes; Healy: Yes; Acting Mayor Hackett: Yes). - Community solar participation: The council authorized renewed participation in the state community solar program (moved and seconded; the motion carried). Presenters on that item said participating residents can expect an average reduction in electricity supply costs from PSE&G of about 30% on average, and that the program has been revised to present the discount on a single PSE&G bill. - Local property acquisition grant agreement: The council authorized acceptance of a NJEDA local property acquisition grant for the property at 200 South Avenue (referred to in the meeting by a property name); the resolution passed on roll call (recorded affirmatives in the transcript).

What the council did not decide tonight: The presentation and discussion did not include a formal council vote to commit municipal funds to the Rialto project. Presenters requested letters of support for the EDA application; the council did not take a recorded vote on a letter during the meeting.

Next steps noted by presenters: the Collective will post renderings and details at centerforcreativity.art, continue fundraising and outreach, refine design and budgets as required for the NJEDA application, and return to the council for updates and specific requests for support.