Controversy continues in amphitheater deal
Controversy continues to surround a proposal to turn the Great Meadows Amphitheater into a movie production studio. Jason Thomas, one of the partners in Fayette Films LLC, said Monday that if Fayette County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh wants to see the money, “he should show me the deal.”
Cavanagh earlier said that the group should show him the money, contending that everyone involved should sign the agreement, including partners Barry and Doris Keating-Schlesinger. Other partners in the venture include Thomas, a Wyoming-based writer and film studio developer, the Schlesingers and Uniontown attorney Ira B. Coldren Jr. Doris Keating-Schlesinger is a veteran movie producer and her husband is chairman of one of the largest real estate development companies in the country.
Thomas said Cavanagh knows the Schlesingers are full partners.
“He wants everyone to sign lease, but they have not given it to us yet,” Thomas said. “Every day they send an amended deal.”
“Sean Cavanagh has shot off his mouth before loading his brain,” Thomas said. “If he expects us to drive through downtown Uniontown throwing out thousand dollar bills he doesn’t know business.”
Thomas said Cavanagh is acting as if the county is giving the property away.
“We’ve asked to come in and purchase it and run it as an amphitheater,” Thomas said. He said that as president of the company, he can sign a contract and Coldren can sign in his absence. He said it isn’t necessary for every member of the company to sign a contract.
Cavanagh, though, said there are problems with the property.
“I might not know show business, but I sure know business,” Cavanagh said. “The problem is a tie to the state. The property has deed restrictions and is not a free and clear piece of land.
“Anybody can buy it but I have to protect the interest of our taxpayers. I don’t care if Jason Thomas buys it or Michael Eisner from Disney buys it,” he said.
The Wharton Township property is located on Route 40 near Fort Necessity. It has been unused for decades. Fayette Films proposed making family-friendly movies at the site as well as utilizing the amphitheater and constructing backlots to use to attract tourists.
Although Cavanagh said he would be in favor of allowing Fayette Films to purchase the 127-acre piece of land and then dealing with the deed restrictions imposed by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, that may not be possible.
Fayette County commission chairman Vincent A. Vicites said it is a very complicated transaction. He said the Act 70 deed restrictions have to be addressed by the DCNR and then the state legislature must take action to remove them. The restrictions limit the use of the property.
Vicites said if the deed restrictions are violated before they are lifted the county would be subject to paying interest and penalties on whatever price the county paid in 1967 to purchase the property, compounded at a semi-annual rate of 6 percent. He said those fines could amount to $500,000 or more.
He agreed that the county needs to expedite the deal but said he doesn’t want to misstep.
“I hope they’re patient. We’re trying to set up meeting with DCNR to discuss the Project 70 deed restrictions,” Vicites said.
“Procedurally, it’s absolutely correct to meet with the DCNR first. It wouldn’t be prudent to finalize a deal without speaking to them,” he said. Vicites said he has told Thomas that the deed restrictions must be dealt with before the property can be transferred. The only property that isn’t affected is a six-acre piece of land that includes the amphitheater and parking lot.
“I want to proceed with caution,” Vicites said. “The meeting should take place in near future but nothing can happen until the deed restrictions are lifted.”
The DCNR official handling the issue could not be reached for comment.
Cavanagh said he won’t rush into a major financial decision and if the property is leased, the lease has to be iron clad. He said he supports the project if it means making motion pictures and bringing jobs and money to the county.
“But I’m not going to get into an agreement and get behind the eight ball,” Cavanagh said. “I can’t violate state laws.”
Cavanagh said the Fayette Film people are very anxious but he won’t be pressured into a deal that doesn’t make sense. He said business occurs when buying and selling occur simultaneously.
“You don’t need a degree from Wharton or Harvard business school to understand the concept of show me the money,” he said.
The company plans to pay more than $600,000 for the property and has earmarked $1.4 million for salaries in the first year.
Thomas also addressed the issue of pornographic movies being made at the site. He said he never did pornography and never had the slightest interest in it.
“It’s an insult. We will do nothing X-rated,” he said.
Thomas said he needs an agreement to start making films. Thomas said he has invested $100,000 in the project and wanted to begin filming in the beginning of October.
“I’m starting to get disgusted,” he said.
He said they are willing to lease and buy later but they certainly prefer buying. “We’re asking for nothing but to buy the property,” he said.