The Plymouth City Council members held a public hearing last week concerning the upcoming final phase of the REES Theater renovation project.
Priority Project Resources Grant Writer Shannon McLeod reminded the council members that the final phase of the project was included in the Regional Development Plan in the Marshall County Crossroads Regional Stellar Communities Initiative. The county was named the regional Stellar Communities winner in December.
The fourth and final 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. Other necessary interior work will be done including plumbing and electrical installations. The third story will turn into a meeting space, a restroom and office for the future director.
McLeod noted that being a part of the stellar process has resulted in more money from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to fund the last phase of the project. OCRA will provide $750,000 toward the $1.9 million cost of the project, while a Marshall County Community Foundation grant of $154,000 will make up part of the funds along with $575,000 from the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission, and $300,000 in Regional Cities funding. About $150,000 will be taken out in a loan by the REES Theater group which should be the remainder of the funds needed for the project.
McLeod told the council members that following the REES Theater public hearing, the grant application will be submitted to the Stellar committee for review and approval, and then sent to OCRA officials. While the funding is earmarked for the project on the state level, an application requesting the release of those funds is still required.
No public comments were given during the public hearing.
