The Friends of the State Theatre, a nonprofit corporation, received the support from the town's Community Preservation Committee for a $500,000 matching grant to be used for the rehabilitation of the former State Theatre located in the downtown area. The group plans to file for Mass. Cultural Council Facilities Fund Grant due March 7.
The Friends of the State Theatre, is looking to raise $4 million for the rehabilitation of the theatre at the 807 Washington St. site, which opened in December 1927 and has been vacant since December 2007. Their mission is to restore the theatre and to help revitalize the downtown.
The owners of the theatre C&V Investment Realty Trust demonstrated its support of the Friends of the State Theatre with a 30 year lease, with an additional 10 year option. The Friends of the State Theatre won't have to pay rent for the first 20 years of the lease under the condition the group raises the funds for the rehabilitation of the theatre.
The preservation group hired The Field Organization of Somerville to create a business plan, and hired Wilson Butler Architects of Boston using funding included in the State budget thanks to representatives Louis Kafka and William Galvin.
For more information about the Friends of the State Theatre, or to show your support with a donation, their website is www.statetheatre.us or you can find them on Facebook "Friends of the State Theatre."