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RiverStage II renovation cost projections

• Demolition required for stage renovation: $28,000
• Outdoor theater stage renovation: $618,300
• Stair tower demolition: $21,900
• Facade refurbishment: $234,420
• Exterior sliding doors: $63,850
• Roof repairs: $39,200
• Reception hall demolition: $51,912
• Reception hall renovation: $427,300
• Indoor theater refurbishment: $85,750
• Indoor theater support area demolition: $28,140
• Indoor theater support area renovation: $402,000
• Restroom renovations: $100,000
• Building construction contingency (8 percent) $168,062
• Owners contingency: $90,752
• Total: About $2.3 million
— City of Jeffersonville*
*Estimates developed by the Estopinal Group for the city

Related Photos

  • Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore wants to sell this barge purchased by previous Mayor Tom Galligan to replace the city’s current RiverStage. The new vessel, purchased by the city for $370,000 last year, will need an estimated $2.3 million in renovations before it can be used, which Moore said is too much for the city to pay. File photo

    08-13 Riverstage 1.jpg

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February 1, 2012

Moore sets sale for new stage

Mayor wants to keep current riverstage

By DAVID A. MANN David.Mann@newsandtribune.com

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore said he has a buyer in mind and will sell the city’s new entertainment barge, RiverStage II.

The barge was purchased by Moore’s predecessor, Tom Galligan, last year. The city had plans to renovate the vessel and turn it into a new floating stage and venue. Moore said the cost of those renovations — at an estimated $2.3 million — is too much for the city to lay out for the project.

“That’s something Jeffersonville is not going to pursue,” Moore said.

Jeffersonville’s current RiverStage — which floats on the Ohio River — is used for concerts, movies, plays and more during the warm months of the year. Last year, the city spent $370,000 to replace the stage, citing damage to its 70-year-old hull.

RiverStage II, 100 feet longer, 15 feet wider and one story taller than the current one, has been docked at Jeffboat — awaiting remodeling and repairs — since summer.

Moore said his potential buyer wants to use the barge as an entertainment vessel on a lake in Kentucky. He said the negotiation is still in its very early stages so he wasn’t sure how much the city could get for the vessel. If the sale does go forward, the question would become how much the city will have to spend in order to repair the current, smaller stage.

“We were led to believe the hull [of the current ship] was in disrepair,” Moore said.

He’s hired an inspector from Jeffboat to look over the stage and determine what repairs are needed. He hopes to get those repairs finished before RiverStage’s spring season begins. It usually opens in April for Thunder Over Louisville with regular shows starting in May.

Jeffersonville City Councilman Matt Owen, head of the Jeffersonville Parks Authority, said the city is spending a lot of money to keep RiverStage II in storage. However, he believes Moore should hold off on any sale until a repair cost for the old barge is made clear.

“I would say we should wait to make a decision, until we have all the information,” he said.

Council president Ed Zastawny admits that the $2.3 million renovation estimate for the new stage is high. However, he believes it might be worth it, depending on the repair cost of the old stage.

If it costs $1 million to repair the old stage, he said, “I’d rather spend money on the new one.

“Even if we keep the old one, we’re still keeping a dinosaur alive a little longer.”

RiverStage II has more to offer, Zastawny said, such as dressing rooms to bring in bigger acts, indoor theater space and a rental area.

“It’s kind of a tough call,” he said.

Zastawny was unclear if the council had any legal ground to intervene in the potential sale. Additionally, he said, he was unsure of how the rest of the council felt on the issue, noting it has not discussed it as a body.

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Esther Book, of Starlight, stems strawberries so they can be washed and prepared for the strawberry shortcake booth at the 34th annual Starlight Strawberry Festival at St. John's Church on Saturday afternoon.

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