Paramount Theater renovation wins board approval; marquee digital display limited and subject to field review

Joseph Thompson, the project architect, presented a multi-part renovation plan for the Paramount Theater at 1008 Brown Street, describing façade repairs, storefront activations for local artists and a proposal to modernize portions of the marquee.

Thompson said the prior approval had expired and the new application includes refinish work on stucco and wood, partial replacement in kind using routed composite (Boral) for durability and a proposal to convert the east and west ends of the marquee to a digital face while keeping the primary front face analog. He said the project underwent DRI review and SHPO imposed limits: "We're not allowed to have animated pictures. We're not allowed to have, you know, colors or graphics or anything like that." Thompson said the digital panels would "change no more than once per minute" and would use black letters on a white grid to match the existing appearance.

Board members questioned materials, color choices and night-time impacts. Thompson proposed a 3,000 K LED color temperature to match street lighting and offered a post-installation field review before a final certificate of occupancy to adjust brightness or color. On a motion to split approvals, the board separately approved the façade work and the marquee plan; the marquee approval includes a required final in-field review of color temperature and brightness before final sign-off. Thompson said the council previously approved the DRI and the team hopes to start construction this fall.