FAQs

The Foundation has no set criteria for selecting Board members. The individual who is selected must have the desire to serve and be able to attend meetings.  The new members to the Board must be duly elected by the Foundation Board. The Foundation will not exclude anyone because of race, color or creed.  Board members are selected by the existing Board of Directors pursuant to the bylaws of the Foundation. 

No.  Board members serve without compensation and it is anticipated that will continue in the future.  As long as the current Board of Directors is intact, it is not expected that Board members would be compensated. 

Currently there are no plans to increase the size of the Board.  That would be an option for the Board in the future as the duties and responsibilities of members of the Board evolve.  To date, there have been no discussions about increasing the size of the Board, with the possible exception of creating one honorary position on the Board.

Other investors have expressed interest in contributing to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the amphitheater. The Foundation intends to have an endowment to support the investment pledged by Mr. Hengst and ensure that there is more than sufficient capital to have a thriving facility.

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The Foundation is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation that will seek to work with a general contractor who can effectively and efficiently manage the construction of the amphitheater. To date, the Board has been working with CORE Construction, a Central Illinois based company with a stellar reputation locally and nationally, and it is the initial choice of The Hengst Foundation benefactor, Jim Hengst.  The most important decision with respect to the construction of the project will be to employ the best possible people and organizations and do so at the prevailing wage. 

With that in mind, the Board cannot, with any degree of assurance, provide the exact mix of local and regional contractors and businesses that will be utilized.  Naturally, the Board would like to use local businesses to the extent that fits with the overriding principle that the project will utilize the best possible people and organizations to create the best possible amphitheater project.

The City Council will make that decision.  Appraisals are currently being developed to determine the market value of the land.  The land is in the City’s Enterprise Zone, which allows for a five-year property tax abatement on property improvements.  The abatement incentive could be reduced or waived depending on the terms of a lease or sale of the property that would house the amphitheater and its supporting site improvements.

The property is located at the intersection of US 24 and Dallas Road on the north side of Washington.  Approximately 30 acres are located north of US 24 and 193 acres are south of US 24.  The amphitheater is proposed to be located near the northeast corner of the property in order to minimize any sound from interfering with nearby developed residential properties.

The land around Freedom Parkway is not owned by the City.  The 223 acres of land that the venue would be constructed on are owned by the City of Washington.  This is a huge advantage and provides more control on what may be developed.  Freedom Parkway has considerable potential for development as well if the property owners are willing to sell any or all of it.

The City owns the 223 property while everything along Freedom Parkway is privately owned.  Also, the venue is being designed to face northeast to avoid the sunset being in the performers’ eyes.  There are very few residential homes currently to the northeast of the 223 property, while there are more residential homes northeast of Freedom Parkway.

The Foundation will entirely pay for the amphitheater.  The City will not be asked to pay for its construction, maintenance, or operation.

City staff advocate for paying for the infrastructure to the amphitheater site.  This would not only facilitate the amphitheater construction but would also open dozens of acres of land to development with close proximity to US Route 24.  The amphitheater will be designed and constructed by the benefactor’s choices of CORE Construction, TERRA Engineering and Epstein Global Architects.  The City is willing to entertain interest and offers to develop remaining land on the property.  This could involve the creation of a Request for Proposals, inviting developers to come forth with their ideas, credentials and ultimate proposals. The City of Washington will be in charge of the possible development of any remaining land as the property owner.

The Foundation and the City will be collaborating in the search for state and federal grants, as well as private grants in the areas of arts and landscape beautification.

At this time, the City does not plan to borrow funds to pay for the estimated $3.5 million infrastructure cost. Staff feels that existing funds can pay for this cost.  The City would receive funds either from a sale or lease of the property.  Additionally, an amusement tax and parking fees could be instituted to generate revenue, which could entirely be collected by the City or shared with the Foundation.

Based on impact projections in the feasibility study completed by Hunden Partners, City staff estimate that the revenue attributable from the amphitheater (direct spending and a portion of indirect and induced spending) will offset the initial road and storm sewer construction cost in eight years.  That revenue will offset all of the initial infrastructure cost (including water and sanitary sewer construction) in ten years.  Revenue projections do not include any other future development that may result on the property.

The Foundation will be responsible for its operation and the City will not be subject to any financial risk that may be involved.

Yes, this development will be subject to paying annual property taxes.  It is proposed that the Foundation will be responsible for that payment, which will positively impact several public taxing bodies.

The Foundation will likely maintain the space occupied by the venue.  The maintenance of the parking lot areas will be the responsibility of the Foundation.  The access road to and from the venue and infrastructure within public right-of-way will be maintained by the City.  This will allow for future development of the 223 property.

The Foundation respects the Park District and will invite dialogue on the operations of the amphitheater.

It will be operated by a third-party firm that specializes in the promotion and management of such entertainment facilities.  As a private venture, the Foundation and its operating partner will be able to generate a profit through ticket sales, concessions, merchandise, parking, etc.

The Foundation will ideally employ one in-house Talent Coordinator who will work with talent managers, producers, and directors from a wide variety of genres.  It is anticipated that there will be a third-party firm that will attract national acts to the amphitheater.  Such a firm may also be able to handle the marketing and ticket sales for both the amphitheater and Five Points.

This project fits well with the plan.  The property’s size and location lends itself to a variety of possible land uses.  A seasonal entertainment venue would help to create more demand for development on the property.  It is intended to be located further from existing development and near US 24 in order to minimize noise spillover and to allow visitors more efficient access to the facility.

The amphitheater is not planned to be enclosed and figures to have a more seasonal operation.  This is also intended to be compatible with—and not in competition with—Five Points Washington.  The City is open to any and all ideas for additional development on the property.  Parts of the property closer to US 24 are more suitable for lodging, restaurants, and retail and service businesses.  Areas without close proximity and accessibility to US 24 may be more suitable for residential, institutional, and recreational uses.

The City will continue to maintain the option of selling land for future development.

Performing arts venues are seen as an attraction and not a detraction. Many people are drawn to the possibility of being within close proximity to venues that offer entertainment options.  A noise study has been conducted to offer recommendations on means to mitigate the impact of any sound generation.  The venue would be located near the northeast corner of the property and face to the northeast to reduce any noise spillage to existing nearby residential properties.  Other mitigation, such as placing the facility below-grade and constructing berms can further reduce any noise impact.

Property and sales tax revenue will be generated solely from the amphitheater.  Each of the taxing bodies that have jurisdiction within the boundaries of the 223 property would benefit from an increase in property tax generation.  Sales tax will result from merchandise and food and beverage sales from the amphitheater.  While revenue projections do not account for any other development on the property, the extension of a road, water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer to the amphitheater site will open dozens of acres for potential development, which would also likely increase future property and sales tax generation.

The Benefactor has made it known to the City that the City could take ownership of the venue at any point. While the foundation feels strongly this venue will be a great success, the City and/or Park District could be given the first right of refusal to assume ownership if it were to default.  With that being said, the City will not now nor in the future plan to be involved in the management of the amphitheater.

The Foundation sees great potential with this project and hopes to break ground as soon as reasonably practicable.  With that said, the Foundation realizes that this is a significant proposal at a prominent location and must go through due diligence by the City.  It would be practical for ground to be broken for the amphitheater in 2025 and for the construction to be completed in 2026.  Infrastructure engineering has not begun.  Design engineering could be completed by the end of 2025 and the infrastructure construction could be completed in 2026.

The Foundation will present a healthy variety of native plant and tree ideas offered by TERRA Engineering VP of Landscape Architecture and Design, Keven Graham. 

Basins on the 223 property should assist with the release of stormwater downstream.  As with any development, basins are only required to capture runoff associated with its stormwater but it is anticipated that these basins will be able to reduce the impacts of heavier rainfall events to the south, particularly if they are oversized.

The City will likely be responsible for the maintenance of a detention basin if it sized to handle stormwater runoff for the entire property.  The Foundation would likely be responsible for a smaller basin that is only intended to handle runoff from the amphitheater site.  While design engineering for all public infrastructure on the property needs to be completed, it is anticipated that there would be a dry detention basin on the southeast quadrant of the property.  This allows for the short-term capture of stormwater runoff and a controlled release from the structure.  The exact type of basin(s) will be determined as part of the design engineering process.  Staff recommends that basins be oversized in order to further help with downstream runoff.  In that case, the City would likely assist with funding and maintenance.

The City’s zoning code requires that any lighting in connection with off-street parking shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from all adjoining residential buildings, residential zones, or streets.  Staff will work with the developer and contractor to ensure that all lighting is kept on the amphitheater site and to minimize security lighting when the facility is not in use.

The stage and speakers will be facing the northeast.  This is designed to keep the sunset out of the performers’ eyes. It also projects the sound toward Bowen Lake and away from residential subdivisions.

The segment of the property to the north of US 24 is zoned C-3 (Service Retail) while the land to the south of US 24 is zoned R-1A (Single-Family Residential).  The portion of the property that is proposed to house the amphitheater would need to be rezoned with a special use.

The City Code that pertains to noise is Section 36-5, Noise Control, which states the following:

(a) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, it is unlawful for any person within the city to make, continue or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, convenience, health, peace or safety of others, within the limits of the city, where such loud, unnecessary or unusual noise can be clearly heard 100 feet from the boundary of the property upon which the sound is produced or reproduced.

(b) The prohibitions of this section apply to the making or causing of noise by mechanical means, including radio transmission or receiving sets.

(c) Violations of this section are punishable by a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $750.00.

It is believed that many of the attendees will be using US 24 and the newly constructed Dallas Road to get to and from the venue. The other primary north/south roadways around Washington are Main Street and Cummings Lane, which will bring attendees to Cruger and not through subdivisions. The traffic impacting subdivisions is a lot worse during WCHS football and basketball games or during Five Points events because of their location in the central part of the city.