HENGST FOUNDATION

The Hengst Foundation has pulled the plug on its proposal to build and operate a 5,000-seat, $12 million amphitheater on a portion of vacant farmland owned by the city of Washington.

A controversial proposal to build a $12 million, 5,000-seat amphitheater on vacant city property off U.S. Route 24 and Nofsinger Road in Washington is apparently off the table.

A legal opinion regarding a possible conflict of interest involving Washington Mayor Gary Manier and the foundation that's proposing to build a $12 million amphitheater in the city will not be released to the public.

Many Washington residents have strong opinions about the project and more than 100 filled a banquet room at Five Points Washington on Monday for a Washington City Council committee of the whole meeting.

A proposed 5,000-seat amphitheater that would be built on city property wasn't on the Washington City Council's meeting agenda Monday, but it was on the agenda of audience members who came to the meeting to express their opposition to the project.

Discussions with several of the estimated 100-150 attendees at the 90-minute open house included positive comments about the project and other concerns including traffic flow, security, environmental issues, the city's investment, and the amphitheater's impact on the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points.