The Muncie Historic Preservation and Rehabilitation Commission plans to start improvements on the Muncie Civic Theatre in early June. The process is expected to be completed as soon as possible, while there is good weather.
The planning began when two grants were given by the George and Frances Ball Foundation and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The City of Muncie Office of Community Development subnitted an application for the DNR grant.
The theatre received a $50,000 grant from the George and Frances Ball Foundation. The Historic Preservation Grant from the DNR is pending federal distribution, but it would match the amount given by the foundation. Historic Preservation Officer Bill Morgan said notification will be given later this month whether the grant will be made available.
Morgan said getting grants from the George and Frances Foundation and the DNR is a great opportunity for the renovations on historic buildings.
"One of our biggest problems is people assume there are a lot of grants, and that's not true," he said.
Originally, the city's original plans were to use the grant to provide the theater with an eco-friendly furnace, toilets and other interior parts. However, Morgan said the priority for these grants would be repairing the shell of the building.
"I understand why they want to do more in terms of repairing the roof and windows," he said. "These things will help the building survive."
Members of the State Historic Preservation and representatives from Muncie will meet today to discuss what parts of the venue should be renovated.
"We are trying to create a better overall experience," Robby Tompkins, director of marketing, said. "And the venue is a historic building."
The theater had been doing small renovations over the past few years on lighting, sound and the lobby, Tompkins said. There had been no focus, however, on renovating the outside of the theater.
The Muncie Civic Theatre, located in downtown Muncie, has staged plays and musicals since its creation in 1931. The building in which the theatre is located has been standing since 1880.
Morgan said he is looking forward to working on improving a building in the downtown area.
"I started my architecture career across the street from the theater in 1985, and they were repairing the block," Morgan said. "So it's fun to come back and work in that area."
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