Council Amends Ensemble Theater Grant

City Council voted 6-1 to amend a Redevelopment Agency grant to Ensemble Theater, lowering the amount from $1 million to $950,000, but allowing Ensemble to purchase Victoria Hall and not just renovate it. CALM would own the basement portion of the building, buying out the Unity Shoppe and RSVP, giving those nonprofits needed capital while still allowing them to lease space. Councilmember Cathy Murillo objected to the deal because it could allow Ensemble to avoid paying prevailing wages for construction.