ONEONTA _ As active construction began Thursday for a new building at the Foothills Performing Arts Center, officials noted their enthusiasm for the progress at the downtown site.
"It really is an exciting day," said board of directors member Doug Reeser, as work began to prepare the lot for a June groundbreaking.
When finished, the Market Street building will include an 8,000-square-foot atrium and a 618-seat theater, he said. A scenery shop is also planned for this $7 million phase of the project that is expected to open by the summer of 2009.
An additional $2.5 million of construction could take place if activity at the center warrants it, Reeser said.
"It's very exciting to see the progress," said Foothills President Peter Macris. "We have become as much of a civic center as a performing arts center."
The first building at the site, which was intended as a scenery shop, was opened in 2005.
The new building will allow such events as expositions, concerts and theater, he said. "We will be able to do all kinds of things," Macris said.
The not-for profit was formed eight years ago, but Macris said he was among those working for a lot longer to bring such a facility to Oneonta.
At the site, Dave Panich, with TerraSystems Inc. of Purcellville, Va., said the crane and excavator were being used to compact soil that had been brought to the scene.
The soil samples taken last fall indicated the need for the work. This is fairly common, he said, and "everything seems to be going well."
Reeser said he was hopeful that the construction activity will encourage people to "come forward" when Foothills starts its $1 million fundraising campaign soon.
The new building was scaled back from an original proposal of a 1,200-seat theater complex, as the board decided the current plan was more sustainable, he said.
Having an attraction that will bring more than 600 people downtown is important not just for the theater, he said, but the community that it will support.
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