May 17, 2000
Mayor Williams Announces Efforts to Restore Howard and Dunbar Theatres
Award from White House Millennium Council Means Access to Federal Funding for Historic Landmarks
Washington, D.C. - Mayor Anthony A. Williams today announced efforts to restore the historic Howard and Dunbar Theatres in the Shaw community, and accepted an award recognizing the Howard Theatre as the 500th Official Project of Save America's Treasures, a public-private partnership between the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to preserve America's irreplaceable historic and cultural treasures. This designation makes the theatre eligible for federal funding to restore its historic exterior, making the site significantly more attractive for developers.
"I welcome these partnerships to save the Howard and Dunbar Theatres," said Mayor Williams. "The redevelopment efforts will create new jobs, eliminate blight, restore two much-needed cultural arts venues, and attract visitors to the Shaw community. It is another step forward in our efforts to invest in our neighborhoods."
"The Howard and Dunbar Theatres were an important part of the District's cultural arts history, and with the newfound interest to renovate the theatres, the rich history and culture of the theatres will be preserved and shared with future generations," said Othello Mahone, Interim Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development.
The Peoples Involvement Corporation (PIC) will redevelop the Dunbar Theatre. The theatre will be renovated to include office suites on the top two levels and retail space on the bottom two levels. DHCD provided $70,000 to PIC for acquisition financing and a Neighborhood Initiatives Support Program Equity Grant for $144,472 to offset the equity capital and predevelopment costs associated with redeveloping the Dunbar Theatre.
In 1986, the Government of the District of Columbia purchased the Howard Theatre from the Howard Theatre Foundation. The restoration of the Howard Theatre is one part of the Mayor's soon to be announced plan to spur economic development along the entire Georgia Avenue corridor. With this designation, the administration will begin in earnest to review and explore all options to restore the Howard Theatres.
Mayor Williams was joined by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton; Susan Eisenhower, Co-chair of the White House Millennium Committee to Save America's Treasures; and Andre Gandy, Chief Executive Officer of the Peoples Involvement Corporation.
