The Plymouth City Council members held a second public hearing Monday night concerning the REES Theater project for use as a community center.
The project is part of the Marshall County Crossroads Stellar Communities Initiative Regional Development Plan. The total cost of the last phase is $1,645,000.
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.
Priority Project Resources Grant Writer Shannon McLeod previously said almost $1.4 million of that is coming from an OCRA grant through Stellar and the match is coming from funds gathered by the REES Theater group of about $505,500 which includes Regional Cities funds and local donations.
Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi noted that the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission members previously pledged $575,000 toward the overall project, but no other city funds are being used toward the project. The city is simply a pass-through administrator for this grant.
There were no other public comments.
The grant award announcement in about 30 to 45 days. The project will go to bid following the announcement with construction anticipated to begin in November.
The council members unanimously approved a resolution that would go along with the grant application which will be filed electronically this week.
