The vote came about a year after the theater completed roughly $400,000 in safety work and renovations, including repairs to a brick wall and skylight. SALT raised the money after reaching a deal with the township for a 10-year license at a fixed cost. The agreement took effect Jan. 1, 2024.

After about an hour of public comments opposing the sale without protections for the theater, Supervisor Bryan Maher called for the license agreement to be made a condition of the sale. The board could not add that requirement after its vote, but may meet Thursday to discuss it. The township said it would publish the meeting details online.

As currently written, the bid materials ask potential buyers whether they would accept SALT’s license terms or prefer that the township end the agreement with 30 days’ notice. Township Manager Joan Blatcher said the agreement is included in the packet. She said officials did not plan to sell the property when they made the deal with SALT, but that the historic site has limits on how it can be altered to accommodate a larger police squad and meet accreditation requirements.

The township is seeking at least $2 million for the property to help cover the cost of a new police facility. The department operates in a smaller building on the site; township offices, a meeting room and the theater share the larger building. Township officials have said the sale would help pay for work at a new facility at 1001 Kimberton Road.

SALT President and Artistic Director Lauren McComas said the group knew it was taking a risk investing in a building it did not own, but relied on the township’s 10-year commitment. The project included a $200,000 construction loan that McComas personally guaranteed.

“If they did not honor our license agreement and kicked us out, SALT would be done,” McComas said.

SALT began operating in the building in 2014. Since then, it has staged 90 main-stage productions and provided opportunities for more than 14,000 children to perform through its educational programs, McComas said. The organization also works with community partners, including an all-abilities theater group and the Chester County Food Bank.

The property was purchased by the township from Historic Yellow Springs in 2005. SALT was given a right of first refusal under its agreement, but McComas said purchasing the building was beyond the theater’s means after its renovation spending.

At Monday’s meeting, Maher said selling the building was necessary to support the police department, but urged the theater and Historic Yellow Springs to find a way to keep SALT in the community. His comments drew a standing ovation.

Township officials said they do not want SALT to relocate, while also emphasizing their responsibilities to residents beyond the arts organization. The dispute now centers on whether a buyer will be required to preserve the agreement that SALT says it relied on when it made a major investment in the public building.