GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) Garden City commissioners say they are hopeful that a private developer’s plans for a theater will help revitalize the city’s downtown.
Holcomb resident Mark A. Pamplin says he wants to turn the nearly 84-year-old State Theater into a state-of-the-art, 400-seat theater-in-the-round with year-round performances. He told the commission Tuesday the $3 million renovation project would be funded entirely by private investments.
Commissioners said that made Pamplin’s proposal preferable to one from The Garden City Recreation Commission, which would use the center for community theater and other local productions. Under that plan, the city would still own the theater, and need about $590,000 for renovations.
The Garden City Telegram reports commissioners said Pamplin’s plans would put the property back on the city’s tax rolls, and attract people to downtown.
