New Look for the Tybee Post Theater
Our group recently celebrated the completion of the facade restoration project in December with a ribbon cutting at the Tybee Post Theater. We had a very enthusiastic crowd who listened to remarks by Cullen Chambers, executive director of the Tybee Historical Society, Jason Buelterman, mayor and David Crass, acting director for the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (HPD). Afterward the ribbon was cut and we showed off the old gal!
This project was possible thanks to a matching grant from the HPD as well as contributions from the Tybee community. The FoTT grant application was one of 37 received in the fall of 2008 as part of the SFY 2009 cycle, totaling almost $800,000 in grant requests. However, state budget constraints that year meant that only $20,000 in license plate money was available to fund only the top-scoring Tybee Theater project. At the ceremony Dave Crass said, “HPD was thrilled to make this grant award to such an unusual and significant community landmark.”
We were very lucky to have both Cullen, and one of our board members, John Herdina managing this project which came in under budget allowing us to add side exit doors to the scope of work. Project contractor is JT Turner and the architect is Neil Dawson who has worked on both the Lucas and the Morris Center. We also want to extend a big thank you to HPD staff members, Carole Moore and Bill Hover for all of their support.
The Friends of the Tybee Theater has been actively working to reopen the theater since we purchased the building in May, 2006. The facade project follows the roof replacement and exterior repair completed in 2007.
Next up is getting the interior in shape to have events. Please check out our phase 2 & 3 plans on our website at www.tybeeposttheater.org. Also please consider becoming a member or purchasing a brick or star to help move this important economic project forward. Thanks to everyone on Tybee who has supported this project.
