City of Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass announced today that local businessman Brandon Steele, of Ryno Corporation, has donated $225,000 toward the renovation of the former Liberty Theatre in downtown Tyler. This brings the total contributions to $1,003,000 since January when the fund drive was launched.
“Brandon’s donation has catapulted the fundraising to more than $1 million and will allow the renovation of the Liberty to begin,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “This project will play a crucial role in our efforts to realize the Tyler 21 vision to revitalize our downtown. I am ecstatic that the community has shown their support and stepped up with such generosity for the betterment of the downtown.”
The Tyler 21 Master Plan called for Downtown Tyler to become an arts and cultural district as a strategy to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler purchased the former Liberty Theatre in 2008 and entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA) to lead an effort to raise the funds needed to renovate the theatre into a performing arts hall that will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.
“The vision and passion the City has for the future of downtown is contagious,” commented Steele. “I love Tyler and want to see the aspiration of creating an intimate performing arts hall achieved. I believe it will be pivotal in the future of downtown.”
Steele, a native of Tyler, also recently purchased the former Peoples Bank Building on the corner of College and Erwin in downtown. He has begun renovation of the 90,000 square foot building and expects to invest an additional $4 million to bring it to its former glory and preserve the unique Art Deco interior.
“I am committed to downtown and am investing in its future,” continued Steele. “The Liberty project will galvanize the arts movement in downtown, a key component in the effort to achieve the vision of a thriving, vibrant town center.”
In January 2009, the Liberty capital campaign was launched with a commitment of $500,000 from the Genecov Group followed by a $100,000 pledge by KSA/Wisenbaker, Fix and Associates in July. The Women’s Symphony League of Tyler pledged $10,000 and additional large pledges and donations have been made totaling $100,000. Also, the Give Me Liberty Seat Sale has raised $68,000 that has been added to the campaign to fund the rebirth of the theatre into a performing arts hall. The seat sale provides the opportunity for citizens to sponsor a seat with a pledge of as little as $1,000. (Seats are still available for sponsorship at www.GiveMeLiberty.com).
“This donation is truly a blessing,” said Nancy Wrenn, ETSOA executive director. “The design plans can now be finalized and construction started on phase one. ETSOA will continue to raise funds for the next phase of construction which will include purchase and renovation of the office space we now occupy.”
The architect for the renovation project is Mike Butler, AIA, of Fitzpatrick Butler Architects in Tyler. Preliminary renderings of the project have been drafted and depict an adaptive reuse that retains the flavor of much of the building’s façade. The theatre’s interior will seat 300 and will be comprised of two levels, a main level and a balcony.
“The two levels will make every seat in the house feel intimate,” said ETSOA President D.M. Edwards. “The venue will be an enviable place to perform and will attract visitors from around the region.”
Management and ownership of the theater will be transferred to the ETSOA upon completion of all renovations, with the City maintaining some oversight related to funding for tourism related activities.
“Other cities that have endeavored to revitalize their downtowns have been at it for decades,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “In the two years since the adoption of the Tyler 21 Plan, the momentum we have gained is remarkable. We have seen the establishment of the Business, Art and Culture District, the launch of the Downtown TIRZ, creation of the City Main Street Department, purchase and landbanking of eight acres of property in downtown, the opening of the City’s Gallery Main Street and visitors’ center and now the renovation of the Liberty. Our community has a lot to be proud of.”
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