Latest news with #ThomasRobbins
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paramount renovation and expansion project hits campaign milestone
Apr. 24—The Historic Paramount Theatre Renovation and Expansion Project capital campaign has achieved a major benchmark by hitting the 70% mark of its total goal. It was announced Thursday in a press release that the "It's Showtime!" fundraising campaign has now raised $850,000 of its $1.21 million goal putting it at the two-thirds mark with just about four months left. The Austin Area Foundation has stated that it hopes for a soft opening during the Austin ArtWorks Festival on Aug. 23-24. "My understanding is that we're on schedule," said Austin Area Arts Executive Director Thomas Robbins on Thursday while overlooking the theater. "It looks like a lot of work to go in four months, but they say the next steps are faster than the earlier steps." Money raised through the campaign will be in addition to the $3.67 million committed by The Hormel Foundation last November for the $4.3 million project. A secondary goal of the campaign is to create a maintenance fund for the facility's upkeep as well as paying off the remainder of the mortgage of the adjacent boardwalk property owned by Austin Area Arts. Opened in 1929, the project's work will upgrade the audience and performer experience through accessibility, aesthetic, acoustic, comfort and other production-orientated improvements. A ceremonial ground breaking was held in January of this year to start construction and the work so far has those involved eager for what comes next. "I'm even more excited," Robbins said about the work being done so far. "It's potential unfolding before my eyes. We're preserving the magic that is here." Excavation work has begun on the "new build" portion of the project, which will add 1,960 square feet to the rear of the current annex building, which when completed will include a loading dock, multi-purpose dressing room area, performer restrooms, and grand piano storage, all connecting back-of-house to the newly refurbished stage. Renovation of the current annex building has begun with new ticketing, concessions, and public restroom facilities framed in. A new opening in the west wall of the original Paramount lobby will open access to the annex and will add 1,675 square feet of remodeled front-of-house foyer area. Austin Area Arts Operations Director Kelsey Ritchie said that another aspect of this work will be to take out the door currently opening into the annex from the street and replace it with windows that face Fourth Street NW. A mosaic created by local artist Deb D'Souza will be fashioned over top of the concession and box office area. Meanwhile, inside the theater, all of the former seating has been removed and the stage has been demolished and rebuilt. The stage itself will be a "sprung" floor, which will be easier on the feet and legs of those performing on its surface. Cement work is in progress to relocate the sound booth and to rework flooring to meet ADA requirements. New carpet as well as all furniture, fixtures, and equipment orders have been placed to allow ample time for delivery. "It's going to be a first rate experience for everybody," Robbins said. Most recently, the Austin City Council agreed to fund $46,500 toward the total cost of $93,000 toward an adjustment to the sidewalk outside of the Paramount that further meets ADA requirements. A bumpout curb will be added with a pair of ramps for easier access. In the remaining months work will include the fully rebuilt stage floor, installation of new acoustical treatments, sound and lighting systems, new seat replacement, completion of expanded lobby area and new backstage build-out, front entrance accessibility improvements with a sidewalk/curb bump-out, and a general refresh of surroundings featuring a variety of cosmetic touch-ups. Capital campaign contributions can be made online at by visiting the Austin ArtWorks Center during business hours, or mailing a donation to Austin Area Arts, 300 N Main St, Austin, MN 55912. One-time or multi year pledges gratefully accepted. To donate shares of stock, donor-advised fund, qualified charitable IRA distributions, or other assets, contact Ritchie at 507-434-0934 or email kelsey@
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Council approves Austin Area Arts request to help pay for sidewalk at the Paramount
Apr. 22—The Austin City Council on Monday night unanimously voted to approve paying half into a proposed rework of a sidewalk in front of the Historic Paramount Theatre as part of its renovation and expansion project. The proposal requested that the city contribute $46,500 of the total $93,000 price tag that would rework previous plans in lieu of needed Americans with Disabilities Act adjustments. Most prominently, the plans call for a bump-out curb that stretches the length of the Paramount entrance and includes a pair of ramps leading up to the sidewalk. There will also be newly painted crosswalks as part of the project. The proposal was initially passed out of a previous work session by just a slim 3-2 vote, with some council members concerned about putting a dollar amount on the project. According to Austin Area Arts Director Thomas Robbins Monday night, the project is progressing well toward a hoped-for soft opening during the Austin ArtWorks Festival Aug. 26-27.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
City Council moves request for contributing money to added Paramount work
Apr. 8—Work will address bump out curb for ADA requirements The City Council, by a vote of 3-2 with two council members not in attendance, moved out of its work session a request by Austin Area Arts to help pay for a proposed rework on the sidewalk as part of its renovation project of the Paramount Theatre. Austin Area Arts Executive Director Thomas Robbins pitched the request to the council Monday night to help pay for a $93,000 rework of a proposed Americans with Disabilities Act modification to the front entry that would feature a bump-out curb. The request was for the city to pay half, or $46,500. According to plans submitted in the council's work session packet, the bump out would reach across the length of the main entrance of the Paramount with a pair of ramps leading up to the sidewalk at new painted cross walk locations. However, while council members in general supported the extra work, which wouldn't be charged to the main body of the renovation project, there was some question as to how much the city would chip in. "I don't feel too comfortable putting a number out there," said First Ward's Laura Helle, who ultimately voted for moving the question out of the work session. Second Ward's Mike Postma voiced concern over the amount requested by Austin Area Arts. "I'm really struggling on that half number right now," Postma said in voting against moving it out of the work session along with At-Large Council Member Jeff Austin, who questioned why this need was coming up now rather than during the planning process. The council will vote on whether or not to approve helping with the project at its next meeting, though regardless of the outcome, Robbins said that this is needed work. It likely would require extra fundraising if the council votes against Austin Area Arts' request. "This is required of ourselves for accessibility," Robbins said. "One way or another ... we need to get it done." Work on the renovation began in January and the hope is that work can be done for a soft opening during the Austin ArtWorks Festival in August.
