08 - Grand Theater Phase I - Abatement and Assessment

Home Browse Search

Item No. 8 TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem & City Council FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager SUBJECT: Grand Theater Phase I — Abatement and Assessment DATE: December 12, 2022 BACKGROUND: The City of Paris owns the Grand Theater, located at 21 Lamar Avenue. This building is in a state of disrepair, needing much asbestos abatement, debris cleaning, and a structural analysis performed prior to a restoration and revitalization beginning. The Paris Grand Theater Project (non-profit) has an agreement with the City to work towards restoration and revitalization of the building. They have done some work, but it was agreed that this Phase I will assist them with pursuing further fund raising to complete the task. STATUS OF ISSUE: The City of Paris has budgeted funds in the FY22/23 Budget to cover a Phase I analysis of the building. This Phase I is meant to 1) provide bid documents for abatement and clean up the remainder of the building and 2) perform a structural analysis to identify any structural work that needs to be done. To perform this work, the City has drafted a Professional Services Agreement with Malone Maxwell Dennehy Architects who have been highly involved in this project in the past. They are very knowledgeable of the building and therefore have a head start on what to expect and do when it comes to completing this Phase I. It is intended that at the conclusion of Phase I, we will have documents with cost estimates for contractor work that the Paris Grand Theater Project can use to then pursue fundraising. Once the non-profit has successfully raised the necessary funds, we can pursue bidding the work out. Once the building is clean and secure, the non-profit can then begin planning for restoration and rehabilitation. This will therefore be a multiple step project that will take time. However, given the City owns this building, and given all the restoration and development that is occurring downtown, it makes good sense to 1) make sure our building is safe and 2) do our portion to assist with the redevelopment of downtown.