By all appearances, the majority opinion of Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee is leaning toward not repurposing the city’s primary performing arts venue should construction move forward for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center.
The committee is nearing the conclusion of its two-year mission to recommend a reuse of the 50-year-old Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall — if one at all — with it scheduled to submit a report to the City Commission by the end of June.
As members discussed elements of a draft report at its May 27 meeting, the panel appears to be favoring implementation of some elements of a recent study conducted by Karins Engineering to protect the building from the elements and maintaining certain mechanical functions for the next five to seven years…