After five years of community debate, the Litchfield Opera House was granted a new lease on life this week.
The 107-year-old opera house was sold Monday to the Greater Litchfield Opera House Association Inc. for $1.
Litchfield Mayor Vern Madsen believed the example of a three-story school building in Milan being sold to a community organization was a good idea. And the Litchfield City Council agreed by a 6-1 vote.
The $1 sale price was significantly less than the previous purchase price of $100,000 minus any removal costs for hazardous material.
This is a positive step for the city of Litchfield. The operahouse association takes over ownership of the historic building and the city can put the opera house debate behind it.
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There is still some work to be completed on the opera house's deed, abstract and any city ordinance to facilitate the building ownership.
The opera house association will be responsible for obtaining liability insurance and for removal of any hazardous waste material.
Most importantly, the building sale document prohibits the association or any future private party owner from demolishing the building for the next 30 years.
The arrangement appears to be a win-win-win for the city, the opera house association and the citizens who may enjoy the facility in the future.
We hope the Litchfield Opera House, built in 1900, will now be around for the rest of the 21st century.
