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Liberty Theater advisory board unveils centennial events, urges city support for restoration plan
Summary
The Liberty Theater advisory board outlined centennial plans, a fundraising gala and early restoration work at the historic downtown venue. Board leaders said the city has spent more than $1.5 million on immediate repairs and that a full building assessment suggests roughly $7 million of renovation work will be required.
The Liberty Theater advisory board told Columbus city council on Feb. 25 that it intends to commemorate the theater’s 100th anniversary with a slate of events this spring and to continue fundraising while the city completes an architectural assessment of the building and early preservation work.
Former councilor Mimi Woodson, chair of the Liberty Theater and Cultural Arts Center advisory board, and co‑chair Oz Roberts presented a program of public events including a March kickoff and a Centennial Gala scheduled for April 11. The board asked council and city departments to help the effort by ensuring the city provides the building plans and safe site access the advisors need to develop a long‑term restoration plan.
Woodson said the advisory board has already coordinated fundraising lists and received initial donations routed through the Civic Center finance office; she said the Civic Center’s donation account held about $7,300 in pledges and contributions at the time of the meeting. Roberts outlined plans for an art installation produced with local high‑school students, a 5K run, a film festival, a talent showcase and a gospel praise event as part of the centennial programming.
City staff said some immediate repairs and project funding already are in place: council previously budgeted roughly $4 million for streetscape work on Eighth Avenue near the theater; the city used American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds and other sources to replace the theater roof and to complete HVAC and remediation work. Woodson and Roberts said architects have produced a detailed assessment estimating the total cost of full restoration at roughly $7 million; advisory board members said that figure comes from the firm that conducted the condition assessment and that the board will help the city develop a fundraising plan.
The advisory board also asked for clearer procedures to accept and acknowledge donations and for greater access to the building and to site plans so it can finalize programming and a budget request. Council members and the city manager encouraged the board’s work and signaled willingness to help secure matching grants and philanthropic support while the city continues the architectural planning process.
What to watch next: The advisory board will run the April 11 centennial gala and other events; the city will provide staff and design documents that the board says are necessary to move the restoration plan from assessment to construction-ready design.
