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Highlands workshop hears mixed public views on deteriorating Playhouse; board discusses survey and fundraising
Summary
At an Aug. 21 Highlands Town Board workshop, residents and board members debated whether to salvage or remove the town's Playhouse building, discussed ordering a property survey and fundraising options, and then the board entered closed session on pending litigation.
The Highlands Town Board on Aug. 21, 2025, heard residents urge both preservation and removal of the town Playhouse, discussed ordering a land survey and tree inventory, and considered possible fundraising — then moved into a closed session to consult attorneys about Huff v. Town of Highlands.
The discussion followed public comment from residents who described the Playhouse as iconic but costly to renovate. “You gotta take it, tear it down from what everything I've heard and math from I know from tax wise, it's gotta go,” said Mike King of Hickory Hill Road. Bob Salerno of Choctaw Road, a part-time resident and a board member of the Center for Life of Richmond, said he would like to see a community-driven effort to keep the building and suggested fundraising and potential reuse by local organizations.
The board chair said some residents had asked whether the facade or theater elements could be saved and that the chair had contacted a National Historic Preservation group for information but had not yet received a reply: “I have put in a call to a contact person just to have a conversation, but that person has not called me back yet.” A young resident caller proposed a future parking garage at the site as one post-removal option.
Commissioner Dotson pressed for up-to-date property information. “I definitely think we need an up to date survey so we know what we're dealing with,” Dotson said. Board discussion described typical survey needs: two-foot contour intervals, a topographic survey that could take “a couple months,” and locating trees of significance (generally 12 inches diameter or greater). Board members noted a prior informal decision to take no action for 60 days and discussed bringing a formal survey request to the next regular meeting so the board could vote and, if approved, bid the work in September.
Participants also raised possible fundraising approaches and small-scale community efforts such as selling commemorative shingles or salvaging seating and other elements for reuse. Several speakers said any plan to preserve the Playhouse would need to be fully funded and decisive rather than piecemeal.
After the Playhouse forum, the board convened a closed session, which the chair read as being held “pursuant to g s 1 43 dash 3 18.183 to consult with an attorney in order to preserve the attorney client privilege and to consider and give instructions to an attorney concerning the handling or settlement of the Huff versus Town of Highlands lawsuit.” The motion to enter closed session was moved and seconded and the board recessed into closed session.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve the Aug. 21 workshop agenda — moved, seconded and approved by voice/raise of hands (no roll-call names recorded). - Motion to approve the July 17 work session minutes — moved, seconded and approved by voice/raise of hands (no roll-call names recorded). - Motion to enter closed session to consult attorneys regarding Huff v. Town of Highlands (statute referenced in meeting transcript as “g s 1 43 dash 3 18.183”) — moved, seconded and approved; board entered closed session.
What happens next: Board members said a survey and tree inventory are the practical next steps if the board pursues a formal decision on the Playhouse. Board members discussed adding a formal survey vote to an upcoming regular meeting agenda so the town can obtain bids and schedule work if the board authorizes it. No final decision on preservation or demolition was made at the workshop.
