Trust To Relinquish Theater Company Lessor Role

 HARWICH – Cape Cod Theatre Company/Harwich Junior Theatre, which leases the former recreation building at 265 Sisson Rd., is getting a new landlord, one with which the theater is quite familiar: the select board. 

 The property upon which the building sits is under the jurisdiction of the affordable housing trust. The town conveyed the 1.1-acre property to the trust based on a 2019 town meeting vote to build affordable housing. Under an agreement, the town assigned to the trust the rights and obligations of lessor under the lease and the trust was to take over the theater’s lease. 

 “It’s a lease we have not exercised in five years,” said Affordable Housing Trust Chair Michael MacAskill, who has made his position clear that the trust should not be dealing with a lease. The select board has continued to hold the lease as the trust never entertained that responsibility.

A year ago, MacAskil questioned the trust’s right as a fiduciary to do anything other than work to create affordable housing. He recommended returning the lease to the town.

Last month, MacAskill recommended an intermunicipal agreement be crafted returning the lease and the building to the select board.

On Monday, the trust voted to re-assign the lease to the town, while the trust will continue to own the land. The agreement approved by the trust will also require approval by the select board and Cape Cod Theatre Company. 

 Harwich Junior Theatre, Inc. entered into a 25-year lease with the town in July 2009. Cape Cod Theatre Company seems to have no problem with the transition. President Donna Lane said Monday the nonprofit organization will have to examine the language in the proposed agreement. The theater company’s lease is due to expire in 2034.