Franklin Project: Organizer updates landlord on plans, hopes to have theater open by Christmastime

Michael C. Miller hopes the independent and art film theater in the recently refurbished Franklin Building will open by Christmastime.

On Thursday, Mr. Miller, who is spearheading the $150,000 Screen on the Square project, gave a presentation to the Watertown Local Development Corp. about the space in the Franklin Building that once was occupied by the old YWCA pool and will be the venue for showing small independent, art and foreign language films.

The North Country Arts Council, which will run the theater with flexible seating for 60 to 100 people, leases a storefront in the Franklin Building, 50 Public Square, for its headquarters.

Donald W. Rutherford, CEO of the WLDC, said Thursday that the lease for the 2,000-square-foot space should be signed in a matter of days.

The WLDC, also known as the Watertown Trust, markets the commercial space for Neighbors of Watertown Inc., which refurbished the historic Public Square landmark that also has 16 upper-floor apartments.

If fundraising is successful, the theater would bring to Watertown the same art films, documentaries and animated films that are shown at the Cannes, Toronto and Sundance film festivals, Mr. Miller said.

Fundraising for Screen on the Square will include the North Country Arts Council's "Enchanted Gardens: A Gala Celebration of the Arts" on July 23 and 24, along with a $10,000 matching grant the council received last year from the Northern New York Community Foundation. The July event will be held at Thompson Park. So far, $60,000 has been raised, but the event needs to net $100,000, Mr. Miller said.

Screen on the Square could be a satellite site where live high-definition performances could be beamed, such as from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Mr. Miller said.

Noting it would be an addition to the community's support for the arts, Donald C. Alexander, a trust board member who also is CEO of the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency, said he likes the idea for the theater and said it will help JCIDA to market businesses here.

"It's purely economic development," he told Mr. Miller during Thursday's meeting.