The third phase of the renovation project at the REES Theater in Plymouth is ongoing.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi gave the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission members an update on Tuesday night.
“They’re currently working on back wall masonry work that they’d planned,” commented Surrisi. “I think they had some wrinkles in the way they had that planned and had to adjust some things. The workers came back this week to start on that again.”
The third phase of the project includes rebuilding the entire east outer wall, stabilizing the foundation, a new roof, concrete work, and the installation of steel inside the building.
Surrisi said the grant application for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to help complete the fourth and final phase of the interior portion of the project was not selected in the most current grant award announcements.
“Last week we had the post-grant meeting with the OCRA folks to go over the application. It just missed the scoring threshold by just a little bit. We moved the project into the Stellar Communities application. That application that we’re working on with the rest of the county is due on Friday (Sept. 20).”
The fourth phase includes the renovation of the basement which will contain a dressing room and greenroom for performers. The main theatre will be reconfigured to host four-tiered seating that can accommodate auditorium-like seating or seating for a banquet or conference. The lobby will be upgraded with ADA-accessible restrooms. An upper balcony will be remodeled for seating, or a small meeting room, and additional restrooms. The third story will turn into a meeting space, a restroom and office for the future director.
