The PS/21 is a performance venue integrating the beautiful rural quality of the Town of Chatham with state of the art technology hosting both world class music and dance performers and local professional, amateur and student artists, providing a unique opportunity for the community to have increased access to the arts.

The location is in a unique transitional zone between the Village of Chatham, an area with high density and mixed land use, and the Town of Chatham, which is predominantly developed for residential and agricultural use. The project improvements ultimately will affect just 18.38 acres of the 107.2 acre site, creating 4.71 acres of developed land (i.e. buildings, parking areas and driveways) and improving the remaining 13.67 acres as open meadow or lawn, thus creating a valuable buffer between the differing land uses.

PS/21 a not-for-profit organization is proposing to construct a 28,420 square foot performing arts building with a 19,930 square foot footprint. Presently there is a Saddle Span concert tent, with approximate dimensions of 80-feet by 60-feet and a seating capacity of approximately 300 for outdoor performances.

The main building, like the tent, will be used as a venue for public performances of music, dance, film and other performance arts. In addition to its use for public performances, it is anticipated that the building will also be used for instructional, rehearsal, meetings, on-going fund-raising and other related purposes.

It is hoped that the facility will be able to present several performances a week. Maximum seating within the main building is expected to accommodate up to 405 patrons, although the typical performance is anticipated to be much smaller, drawing approximately 100-150 patrons. Hours would be from 8 a.m. until midnight with public performances occurring between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

The development proposed for the site maintains the transition by preserving over 95% of the existing agricultural and rural landscape of the site as well as maintaining the existing corridor adjacent to NYS Route 66. The improvements to the site, including the tent, the performance facility and the parking, are located beyond the crest of a prominent ridge on the property and are designed to allow visitors to the site to take in the spectacular surrounding views while screening the improvements from public view.

The tent, erected as part of Phase I, has a height of 24 feet and will be screened by the topography and the existing apple trees on the site. Additionally, as part of the landscaping master plan for the site, existing hedgerows located on the site will be maintained and enhanced where possible as part of the long range site improvements.

BACK TO TOP