posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on May 20, 2015 at 8:51 am

In honor of Preservation Month we’re posting a link to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s ‘10 Steps For Restoring Historic Theatres’

“Theaters evoke wonderful memories of experiencing art, enjoying architecture, and spending time with loved ones.

Plus, historic theaters are proven community revitalizers and economic drivers. Not only do they generate an impact of at least $2-$3 per dollar spent on tickets, but they also catalyze other business development, create jobs, and improve the local quality of life. But restoring a historic theater is no small undertaking. In fact, the average historic theater project costs between $5 and $30 million, opens in 5 to 10 years from inception, and requires dozens of consultants. In this toolkit, we share the essential steps in bringing a historic theater back to life so it can be the site of many more happy memories to come."

http://blog.preservationnation.org/2013/12/31/10-tuesday-10-steps-restoring-historic-theaters/#.VVypfblVhHw

And for inspiration, the New York City Economic Development Corporation shared this great summary of the King’s Theatre restoration project, complete with before, during and after images.

“The restoration and expansion of this architectural jewel reestablishes the Kings Theatre as a premier performing arts venue for all to enjoy.

The restoration and expansion of the former Loew’s Kings Theatre marks the rebirth of a marvelous historic arts space. The Theatre will serve as both a cultural hub and catalyst for economic growth along Flatbush Avenue and throughout Central Brooklyn. The approximately $95 million project will create over 500 construction jobs and 100 full time jobs, not including individual production personnel."

http://www.nycedc.com/project/kings-theatre

Tell us about your historic theatre projects and the challenges and success your community embraced to restore a theatre you love.

Theatre Historical Society of America
www.historictheatres.org