VIDEO: Update on the Strand Theatre Project

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI News) – In February, The Board of Aldermen in Louisville opted to purchase the Strand Theatre in the downtown area.

This theatre was once a staple piece of the downtown community, and with the help of the city it will have the opportunity to become that once again.

WCBI spoke with Louisville Mayor, Will Hill, as well as business owners in the downtown area about this upcoming project, and they are all excited for the theatre’s potential..

Built in the early twentieth century, residents of Louisville know the Strand Theatre.

“The Strand Theatre has been here as long as I can remember, since I was a little girl, actually going to the movies every week for sure,” said Becky Lowrey, owner of Becky’s Antiques on Main Street.

It was once a hospital and a doctors office, as well as a theatre, but after being picked up in ’97 by community members renovations have been going on to make the building solely for the arts.

“We did the outside of the building: the facade, the roof, all of the things to make sure the building would stand. And so, over the years, we’ve been trying to raise enough money to do the complete restorations,” said President of the Strand Theatre Board, Mary Snow.

In February, the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor chose to purchase the Strand, receiving a reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mayor Will Hill says the city was able to do this because they went under budget with some disaster relief efforts after the 2014 tornado, and they had money left over to fund property acquisitions, including the Strand.

“We were very excited because the building has such a beautiful structure and is such a part of our heritage that we want to see it complete and we want to see it part of this community,” said Snow.

“I was excited that the building was going to be here, that they were going to do something with the building. It wasn’t just going to be an empty shell. Them using it for the arts, for the community, just makes it even more special,” said Lowrey.

Structural issues have made the building a liability for the city, and until the renovations are completed the theatre will be out of service.

Still, people in Louisville are excited to welcome Strand Theatre back to the downtown life of Louisville.

“It’s for the community; it’s for the people,” said Lowrey. “So yes, I’m thankful that the city has stepped in and is going to fix it, where we can use it.”

“It has to do with quality of life. You have concerts to go to. You have an opportunity to listen to speakers; you have an opportunity to study art, something you didn’t have time to do,” said Snow.

Renovations are on hold until full funding is in place.

But, preliminary designs have already been made, and now that the Strand is under city ownership there will be more advantages to receiving this funding faster.