The DeKalb City Council is scheduled to discuss several funding options for the Egyptian Theatre this month.
Executive Director Alex Nerad says the 1,400-seat Egyptian Theatre is closed during the summer months due to the heat.
“Here we are 85 years after the theatre first opened, and we are still trying to get air conditioning in here."
Nerad says the fluctuating temperatures also negatively affect the building itself.
“Almost everything in the theatre is ornamental plasterwork and decorative painting.”
The council is considering a plan to add $25,000 in operating support for the theatre in addition to capital money from the downtown TIF district for building projects. A plan to address the cooling needs happened a few years ago, but bids to get the job done came in higher than expected.
Current estimates for the project are between $2.5 to $3 million.
At this point, the council is not voting on getting new air conditioning, but voting whether to approve funding for the engineering and design of the project. A vote could come later on giving a green light to the project itself.
“Too many times the public doesn’t take the opportunity that they have to reach out to their elected officials. We certainly understand and appreciate that there are many different opinions all over the place on this matter. What we have really been trying to do in these last couple of weeks is put all of the information we have out there so that people can make their own informed decision on their own.”
The council holds a public hearing on the first reading of the 2016 budget Monday night. The Egyptian Theatre presents its annual report to the council June 22nd.
