When I place the Cleveland Scottish Rite within the context of many other Masonic buildings that have been sold over the past few years, I think of one particular line from the musical “Into the Woods” – “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.” Many Masonic buildings are being sold for a fraction of their worth and now is the time to invest if you have the funds. Those buying these massive entertainment complexes have a strategy to turn a profit, a strategy that I wish the remaining Scottish Rite facilities would consider before selling.
Also, potential buyers are in a prime position when negotiating with a seller that is primarily composed of volunteers. For some reason, many Valleys have been told that their facility will be a “difficult” sell and to anticipate their being on the market for quite some time. Some realtors explain that Valleys should be prepared to accept less than list price and jump at the first opportunity of an offer. This establishes a certain mindset for the seller, as they are tempted to take the first offer, even if it is well below list price, since the opportunity might not come again. This also sets up an ideal situation for an ambitious buyer. The best time to purchase a building is when property owners have fallen on hard times, are desperate, or have no hope of selling.
While contemplating the recent sale of the Wichita Scottish Rite, it is easy to see the many benefits for the buyer (https://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article226976539.html). As much as I wish this were an altruistic act to preserve Masonic heritage, I doubt that is the case. I would love there to be an independent group snatching up Masonic buildings and keeping them safe for the future generations of Masons, ready to hand them back at a moments notice when the Fraternity can afford it again. Right now, these well-built and ornate buildings are ripe fruit, ready for picking by a canny investor. For any group specializing in live entertainment, it would be the perfect time to set up a theatrical circuit.
If I were a member of the Fraternity, I might see a perfect opportunity that could result in great monetary returns. As a Mason, I would immediately recognize declining membership and that many fraternal buildings are in a state of disrepair after decades of deferred maintenance. There will be dozens, if not hundreds, of Masonic buildings placed on the market in the near future. Unlike an old building that needs to be converted into an entertainment complex, many of these buildings are ready to host hundreds, if not thousands, of annual visitors.
Many of these buildings include theaters, banquet facilities, commercial kitchens, and ample parking lots. They are perfect for hosting weddings, social events, and touring productions. In fact, they have been successfully hosting these events for decades and are a well-known commodity. In addition, these buildings are often landmarks, having been the focal point of many communities for over a century. Furthermore, the purchase of many Scottish Rite buildings comes with dedicated renters, a group whose identity remains integrally linked to the space.
For quite a while, I have considered various seller scenarios, if one particular group would begin purchasing Masonic properties and converting them into a string of entertainment venues, here is what I may do…
As an investor, I would establish an investment group to systematically target and purchase these buildings for less than list price. I would realize that this volunteer organization has a key group of individuals who really control each Valley. These are the people that I need to convince, getting them to repeatedly explain to their Valley that they need to downsize, or they will lose their building anyway. Hopefully these individuals will not take the “bull in the china shop approach” and draw too much attention when later placing their building on the market.
The same tactic will be implemented across the country so that it becomes the standard, framing it as a fiscally prudent choice to preserve their endowment (if there is one) and sacrificing their home to ensure a longer lifespan of a lodge. I would then make sure that each purchase was perceived as a generous act; not getting a great real estate deal, but helping Masonic orders stay in their homes for a while. As the new owner, I need to accumulate social capital, making sure each community see me as investing in local history while actively preserving the Masonic home.
What would be the best way to accomplish my goal? Insider information, specifically knowing which historic buildings would soon be on the market. I would need to know which Valleys were going under before the building hit the market, so that I could have everything in place and not appear to target any particular venue. Understanding the current state of various Scottish Rite Bodies would be beneficial. I would have a team in place, a team with almost unlimited resources to quickly renovate and market this entertainment venue to the general public.
The only problem may be some of the material culture in the building, such as a historic scenery collections, stage machinery, or other fraternal artifacts that may get in the way of my renovation plans. It would be best to get rid of any controversial items quickly and quietly, and this is easiest if there are no available inventories or lists. However, if the Scottish Rite Masons no longer need these artifacts for their degrees, or degree productions, it simplifies everything. If Scottish Rite degrees productions on stages are replaced with another form of instruction, the loss of a stage may not be a big deal.
I highly doubt that there is a conspiracy to make a small number of men rich as the Fraternity declines, however, a pattern is starting to develop with the sale of these massive buildings. Several generations of men helped build each Masonic home. Now one generation of men may lose most of them. I am curious to see who really owns the majority of Scottish Rite buildings in a decade. Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.
To be continued…
