Movies, market proposed to CAPC

The concept for developing an "almost-free" Saturday night movie and a Sunday market on North Main got enthusiastic support from the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) members Thursday, but no promises for funding.

Charlotte Buchanan and Janet Farthing brought the ideas to the commission.

Buchanan was a professional festival director for many years in the Seattle, Wash., area.

The proposal for "almost-free" movie on Saturday night is to actually show the movies on the side of the old Greenlee Funeral Home building, across from the Old Town Pub, on North Main.

"We have talked with Charles Epley, owner of part of the parking lot, and will talk with the city about using the parking lot on Saturday night and Sundays," she said.

"We would like to have local talent entertaining before the movie starts, and then the movie at dark. It could be a fun thing for locals and visitors to enjoy, classic movies and popcorn on 13 Saturday nights, June through August."

The Sunday market, in the same parking lot, would be a chance for a variety of vendors to put up tables and sell their wares, she said.

Special Events Coordinator Pearl Brick said she has been working on starting a farmers' market and had about got the details worked out.

"The farmers would be here on Thursday afternoon-early evenings," she said.

"One won't conflict with the other. Because of their participation in the markers in Berryville and Fayetteville, Thursdays is the only time they have available for us."

Buchanan provided packets of information for commission members on similar projects in Seattle.

"These can be very successful," she said. "This type of project helped revitalize a whole neighborhood area in Seattle. We were so successful, a building was built on the parking lot."

She said these two projects could spur interest and development of the retail area on North Main.

Asked about the loss of parking revenue, she said, "Mr. Epley thinks this is a wonderful idea. The movies will start at dark. In the summer, that is nearly 9 p.m. There are not usually any cars downtown to be parked in that lot anyway.

"On Sunday, there is parking available further down on North Main or on top of Planer Hill in that huge lot up there."

She estimated needing $20,000 to put the events on, but told the commission she could raise funds in other areas, if they didn't have the money available.

Commissioner Steve Roberson said, "We are getting ready to approve a very tight budget for 2004, and there is not an extra $20,000.

"If you can't find all the funding you need elsewhere, come back and we will see what we might be able to do."

In other business, Roberson was elected chairman for 2004, Bryan Sumpter treasurer and Ray Dilfield secretary.

The 2004 budget was also approved. (See related story on Page 1.)

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