Wareham Hall seeks 10‑year property tax abatement and public infrastructure funding for $40M renovation

Blaidd Majes, executive director of Wareham Hall (the nonprofit renovating the historic Wareham Building and theater), presented an expanded renovation plan and asked the commission for two forms of support: (1) an industrial revenue bond (IRB)‑based property tax abatement — described as a 100% abatement for 10 years — to enable the sale/monetization of federal historic tax credits through a for‑profit LLC, and (2) public infrastructure funding drawn from the city’s 2023 economic recovery sales tax to repair and reconfigure the sidewalk, add a downtown drop‑off/pull‑off, alley and alley‑grade improvements and other right‑of‑way upgrades.

Project overview and program: Majes said Wareham Hall purchased an adjacent four‑story building (the historic Wareham Building) earlier in the year, roughly doubling the project footprint and adding about 18,000 square feet. Project plans presented to the commission call for a restored and modernized theater with flexible main‑floor seating and permanent balcony seats (approximately 550 seats in seated configuration, up to ~800 for standing/custom setups), a second‑level “Marquis Bar” and multipurpose space, an expanded basement performance and lounge area called the “Way Down Lounge” (approximately 100 seats), commercial kitchen capacity, artist green‑room and dressing rooms, and five short‑term rental units in the adjacent building intended primarily for touring artists and residency programming. Majes said an elevator, a pit lift for the stage, new restrooms and accessibility improvements are part of the…