What the final project will look like.
Downtown Pontiac seems like a place that takes a couple steps forward and then a couple backward.
Well, here's a nice step forward.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday for the renovation of the historic Strand Theatre, expected to reopen this fall, Aftab Borka writes in The Oakland Press.
The construction for the renamed theater, Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts, was announced at a ground-breaking ceremony at the theatre on Wednesday. The theater, which opened in 1921, has been closed for about two decades.
The owner, Kyle Westberg, says the ceremony was to celebrate the closing on all the financing on the $20-million project and getting started on the construction phase. Slows Bar-B-Q will be the food and beverage provider.
“We anticipate opening this to public this fall. The plan is that we are going to have Slows barbeque restaurant completed first so they can open,” Westberg tells the paper.
The theater's website calls the project "a centerpiece for the rejuvenation of downtown Pontiac." It adds:
Plans are underway for Pontiac’s historic and re-named Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts to be refurbished into a dynamic live entertainment destination. The theater is slated to open in 2016 and will act as a catalyst to spark economic and community growth as it attracts audiences, diners and shoppers into the Pontiac city center.
Conveniently located in the heart of Oakland County, The Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts will be
metro-Detroit’s premier destination for live entertainment,education and the fine arts. Ideally designed with 800 luxury seats, The Flagstar Strand will provide an extraordinary entertainment experience from every seat with intimate sight lines, state of the art acoustics, comfort, convenience, plus a warm and friendly appreciation for all guests. Signature food and beverage items from Slows Bar-B-Q will be served as The Flagstar Strand will be the only theatre of its kind to serve barbeque joint style fare.
