THE TRANSITION from the decrepit, seismically hazardous and municipally embarrassing Sunset Center of the previous century to the modern-yet-charming showplace the theater is today has not been without its glitches.

Foremost of these has been the displacement of some of Sunset’s former users — such as DanceKids and the Mozart Society — which just couldn’t afford the higher rents that inevitably came with a vastly improved hall and its increased operating costs. The air conditioning system doesn’t work right. The soundboard had to be replaced. There have also been a few noteworthy staff changes that weren’t handled very well. Ticket sales for some shows have been somewhat lacking. And the number of outside promoters who have brought performers to Sunset Center is not as high as anticipated.

But many aspects of the new theater have exceeded expectations.

First and foremost is its architectural and engineering success. With few exceptions, Sunset Center works, and it works beautifully. The performers like it, the audiences love it, and even people who just walk by can’t help but feel a sense of pride — especially if they remember the pitiful condition of the old auditorium. Truly, its place in the cultural and physical landscape of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the entire Monterey Peninsula is guaranteed for many decades to come.

Also important is that the taxpayer subsidy required to keep the theater operating has been reduced. Before Sunset Center was rebuilt, this subsidy was running at about $700,000 per year. In the quarter that ended June 30, the city’s grant was $178,250 — just a bit more. But, thanks to a number of factors, the center had a “profit” of $93,000, which means the net subsidy for the quarter was actually about $85,000. For a major civic institution, that’s a pittance. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, for example, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game played at AT&T Park last month cost the City of San Francisco transportation agency $800,000 in employee overtime and other costs, and the police force about $400,000 in overtime alone. And that was for a single event!

The reason cities are willing to bear such expenses is that the events invariably bring in significantly more in tax revenue than they cost. And the financial benefits for the city’s private economy — hotel rooms occupied, restaurant meals eaten, souvenirs bought — are vastly greater. These things were certainly true for the All-Star Game. And they are true for Sunset Center.

But there’s an even more important reason why the rehabilitation of the theater was worth the initial expense and continues to be worth the subsidy: Pride in what Carmel is today, and respect for what it has been. The performing arts have always been a vital part of the town’s character. Sunset Center honors that tradition while ensuring its continuance.

Today, four years after Sunset Center reopened, it’s time, once again, to thank the people who made its new life possible, and to renew the city’s commitment to making it thrive.