Romulus council OKs lease to convert old fire hall into community theater

Romulus City Council on June 9 approved an amended commercial lease that will allow local actor and theater organizer John Theed to operate a community theater at the former Romulus Fire Hall at 35255 Goddard Road.

Theed told the council he plans to run plays, classes and special events at the venue and to involve teenagers and senior volunteers. “Our goal is to obviously have community theater plays, where people can audition and come in and perform plays, do classes,” Theed said during the meeting, adding he already has directors and program ideas lined up.

Council members moved and seconded a motion to concur with administration and authorize the mayor and clerk to execute the amended commercial lease for the property. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all present members voting yes; one member, Councilman Barton, was recorded as excused at roll call.

City leaders framed the lease as both a cultural investment and a way to preserve the historic character of the building. Theed said he intends to maintain the building’s historic elements and avoid permanent alterations that would erase the structure’s past as a fire station.

Council discussion included questions about community partnerships and youth programming. Theed said he has begun scheduling youth classes at the library and hopes to coordinate with local schools in future seasons. “I’m doing a class at the library for kids 12 to 18 starting in June and July,” he said.

The council did not vote on any incentive or subsidy tied to the lease during the meeting; members approved only authorization for the mayor and clerk to sign the amended lease as presented.

The lease authorization follows routine consent-agenda practice and drew brief public acknowledgement from council members who praised Theed’s work and encouraged community support.

Theed described the venue’s planned programming as including traditional plays, holiday radio-style performances and smaller concerts in addition to theatrical productions. He proposed involving seniors as ushers and volunteers to increase community engagement.

If the lease is executed, Theed and his partners will proceed with scheduling and outreach. The council did not set further conditions at the meeting.

The council’s action was one of several administrative and contract approvals taken up during the June 9 meeting.