Aug 23, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 7 min read

Uniontown resident Al Owens told the Fayette County commissioners Thursday that he was amazed they would enter into a contract with a company regarding the Great Meadows Amphitheater wearing “rose colored glasses” when one of the principal people in the company backed out of a similar deal a few years ago. The commissioners said they were aware of the problems and maintained that they the county would be protected financially.

Plans are for Fayette Films LLC, a local company with Hollywood connections, to turn the long-unused site in Wharton Township into a movie-making facility as well as a tourist attraction and outdoor performance venue. The property is located near historic Fort Necessity.

During public comment period of the commissioners meeting, Owens said he did research on Doris Keating-Schlesinger and her husband Barry Schlesinger. He said a similar movie production proposal was made by the pair in Henderson, Nev., near Las Vegas, in 1997 that never came to fruition. Owens claimed that Keating-Schlesinger ended up suing the city for $3.2 million and won “without paying a cent.”

Owens also said that Jason Thomas made a claim that he started a studio in North Carolina that makes $3.6 billion a year and according to information obtained from North Carolina officials, Owens said the entire state only makes $250 million a year in the film industry.

Keating-Schlesinger is a veteran producer of television movies, her husband is the chairman of one of the largest real estate development companies in the country and Thomas is a writer and film studio developer.

In response to Owens comments, commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh said any agreement the county has will be “iron clad.”

“They will have to deliver on the things they are going to deliver,” Cavanagh said.

Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls, who has taken the lead on the project, said he spoke with Keating-Schlesinger and she said the Henderson project became politicized and local people tried to tell them where to purchase things. Nehls said Keating-Schlesinger reportedly spent $2 million after paying $1.2 million for the property and got the $3.2 million settlement to get her money back.

“They found a cooperation and attitude of people here that they didn’t get in the other community,” Nehls said.

When contacted Thursday, Henderson’s solicitor, attorney Shauna Hughes, said the city had an agreement similar to the one proposed in Fayette County.

“In our opinion, no deadlines were ever met,” Hughes said. “The production didn’t come to fruition and they sued us saying we were the reason for their failure to do anything. We entered into a settlement to get the property back because we felt unless we did so, it would be tied up in litigation for years.”

When asked about the Henderson deal Thursday, Keating-Schlesinger said it was a disappointment. She said they were prepared to start construction and a new political regime came in and wanted something different. She said the $3.2 million settlement was to recoup expenses of herself and other partners. She said they paid $1.2 million in cash for the property and made numerous improvements.

“If I did everything wrong, why did they pay me to go away?” she said.

In addition to Owens’ comments, Fort Necessity park superintendent Joann Hanley spoke on the amphitheater subject. Hanley previously raised issues about preserving the integrity of Fort Necessity. Hanley said she is looking forward to sitting down with commissioners and she is confident they will reach a compromise. Hanley also asked that the county manage the site, and not the developers.

“Developers generally don’t love the place as much as the citizens,” said the Ligonier resident. She asked that the beauty and quality of life be intact when the project ends.

The commissioners have proposed creating a 30-foot no-build buffer zone along the side of the property that faces Fort Necessity; limiting building heights to 60 feet and ensuring that the historic Braddock’s Trail is maintained through the site in respond to concerns from Hanley.

Cavanagh said he spoke with the developers and he thinks they want to be good neighbors. He said he is hopeful the venture will create a lot of jobs.

“It has been a white elephant,” he said.

Commission chairman Vincent A. Vicites said that the project is more than just one between the developers and commissioners. He said various parties, including Fort Necessity, will be consulted before the agreement is finalized.

“We’re going to do what’s best for Fayette county as a whole,” Vicites said.

Nehls pointed out that the amphitheater is only one phase of the larger project. He added that the people are from California but it is a local company. Uniontown attorney Ira B. Coldren Jr. is involved with the group. Nehls said he is expecting a business plan this week for Phase I.

“It could be a very good project for Fayette County,” Nehls said.

Vicites said it is a “real complex proposal to solve.”

County solicitor Joseph E. Ferens Jr. said he has been working for 10 days on a proposal for the amphitheater.

“The basic concept is a purchase by Fayette Films LLC with a few contingencies,” he said. With the exception of the six acres where the amphitheater sits, the remaining property has deed restrictions that must be lifted. Ferens said the county borrowed money through a grant fund to buy that property in 1966 and because of the Act 70 fund, the county will have to pay money back to the state if the property is sold.

Although the Fayette Films proposal calls for a purchase price of $500,000, Ferens said the county cannot sell the property for less than the average of two appraisals. That amount is $618,250.

Ferens said the county wants to make sure property is used for what they say they will use it for. He said that includes not allowing “unsavory uses.”

Fayette Films proposed to produce two to five modest-budget ($2 million) family-type films each year; hold special events at the stage; and construct sound stages, a backlot with a mansion set and livery stable set. Plans also include having tours of the site.

The commissioners voted to accept the RFP (Request for Proposals) submitted by Fayette Films and for a lease with option to buy subject to various government entities and solicitor’s approval. The proposal calls for a five-year lease with rent of $5,000 per month for one year and $10,000 per month for the remaining four years and then an increase in rent of $2,500 each month for each extended lease term. If the company puts in $2 million in improvements, they can purchase in the first five years, if not the option to buy is at the end of the first lease term.

Cavanagh was adamant that if the deal doesn’t go through, the property goes back to the county. Ferens said if the company reneges on the deal, the county has a right to sue.

Vicites said he thinks the agreement is well on its way to ensuring that the county’s interests are served. Cavanagh also said that the commissioners don’t want adult films made at the site.

“I think the community should be protected from that type of industry. I’ve seen too many deals with open ended agreements,” Ferens said. He added that if the property is purchased, the restrictions will be put into the deed.

Cavanagh said he was making the motion “with high hopes.”