MCMINNVILLE – Renovations at the historic Park Theatre in McMinnville are on pace for an early 2015 completion.
Work at the former downtown movie house, a building that dates back to the 1930s and most recently served as office space, began earlier this year. Bill Brock, public works director and acting city administrator, said the project is on schedule.
“It’s getting exciting now, the way the building’s beginning to look; it’s going well,” he said. “Demolition is pretty much over, and reconstruction (efforts are) taking shape. They’re working on the rear of the building adding dressing room areas. Bathrooms have been added onto the side in the front foyer. It’s coming together.”
The Park Theatre Group, a 501(c)3 that’s been pushing for the theater’s revitalization for years, last week posted a video update to its Facebook page. The clip shows crews working on the stage, which Brock said was probably the biggest milestone achieved over the past couple months.
“They’ve poured the floor, the walls are up, and you can physically get up on stage and get a feel for what it looks like,” he said.
A $2 million bond issue was approved by voters in 2012 to rehab the structure, and city officials hope to use the facility for weddings, recitals, workshops, music, plays and more. The renovation is set for a February/March completion.
