09 Move to approve a resolution authorizing an application for a certified Local Governement Grant for restoration of the front facade of the Grand Theater

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ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Through completion of all components of the proposed project, we anticipate the following results that are compatible with the goals and objectives of the Texas Historical Commission: 1. Leadership/Teambuilding. The process of completion of the proposed project will require the support of various organizations, community leaders, and property owners throughout Paris. Through this, we anticipate that we will build a strong commitment to the City's preservation efforts from these various groups and will receive their support in completing this project. In fact, the Downtown Merchants Association has already conducted fund-raising events in order to provide matching funds for grants. 2. Vision/Planning. The proposed project is the restoration of the facade of the Grand Theater. This project will show property owners the City's commitment to preservation efforts in the Downtown District and will likely be the basis of further restoration efforts in the area. 3. Education/Awareness. The proposed project, when completed in its entirety, will serve as tourist location which will showcase the history of this National Register historic building. 4. Resource Identification, Preservation, and Interpretation. The proposed project will result in the restoration and preservation of a National Register historic property. Additionally, the Texas Historical Commission named The Grand Theater to the list of Texas's Fourteen Most Endangered Historic Landmarks in 2007. The proposed future uses of the building include a movie theater to show old films, a playhouse for use by Paris Junior College, the local school districts, and the Paris Community Theater, and a community forum for fund-raising events, concerts, and political events. Additionally, restored historic theaters are popular tourist draws wherever they exist, and the additional revenue generate by tourism dollars can be placed back into use for additional restoration projects in the Downtown area. 5. Resource Development. The proposed project is only the first phase in the planned restoration of the entire building. The City will be submitting an application for a Brownfield Mitigation grant to the Environmental Protection Agency for removal of environmental hazards located in the building. Upon completion of the second phase, the City will seek foundation funding as well a local corporate matching funds for a complete interior restoration. The proposed project will promote infrastructure reuse and will hopefully discourage the rampant trend of doing away with history to start fresh. It will also result in an increase in tourism dollars to the commumty which will lead to the availability of more funding to the City for additional restoration projects in the area. As this occurs, we anticipate more private investment for even more restoration projects that will result in job creation to serve the increased traffic to the area. All of these will result in an expanded tax base because of the enhanced desirability of the Downtown for business owners and the increase in property values resulting from restoration of the buildings. PROJECT PERSONNEL: As stated earlier, the City has previously selected the firm of Main Street Architects to perform a study to ensure that the front facade of the building is stable enough to withstand any renovations, that the wark performed is historically accurate, and that none of the work performed will have to be undone later when a complete restoration of the building occurs. This study will be completed prior to the schedule award date for CLG funds. - 000038