ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, January 25, 1996             TAG: 9601250024
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER 

PULASKI THEATRE GROUP WANTS TO PASS PROJECT TO TOWN ECONOMIC BOARD

A citizens group that has spent years trying to salvage the Pulaski Theatre now wants to pass the task along to the town's Economic Development Board.

On Wednesday, board members said they were interested in taking over the project, which will be referred to its Development Committee for more precise planning.

The 84-year-old building, which closed as a movie house in 1992, was donated to Pulaski County. A group called The Friends of the Pulaski Theatre formed shortly afterward, hoping to salvage it and turn it into a performing arts and community center. Blacksburg is making similar efforts in renovating its Lyric Theater.

The Friends put in thousands of hours of labor, brought in consultants and landed a $3,000 grant which requires some matching funds. But the group now admits that a performing arts center, which would require buying surrounding property for a larger stage and dressing rooms, is beyond what it can accomplish.

The emphasis has shifted to reopening the building as a movie theater, something community residents want, according to a recent survey.

It will be up to the economic board to pursue that. The Friends group is not planning to renew its charter, which expires in March.

The theater needs a new roof, an expanded lobby area and a new movie screen to replace one ripped by vandals. All of that would cost an estimated $50,000.

It would probably cost about $250,000 more to renovate the seating and make other changes, and as much as $500,000 more to expand it as a performing arts center.

Sybil Atkinson, chairwoman of the Economic Development Board, said the grant and matching funds are a good start toward at least stabilizing the building.

Board Vice Chairman Wayne Carpenter said work will have to be done in phases, as money becomes available.

"We don't see flying the doors open in '96, obviously," Pulaski Economic Development Director Barry Matherly said, but a start could be made this year. The project ties in with the board's goal of boosting the economy through tourism attractions.

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