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LOCK HAVEN -- The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has awarded Downtown Lock Haven Inc. a $10,000 grant to help fund a feasibility study into transforming the historic Masonic Temple downtown into a Cultural and Performing Arts Center.
The grant was among a total of $2.6 million in Keystone Historic Preservation grants recently announced to help historical and heritage organizations, museums and local governments in 24 counties.
Among two bids received, the downtown board earlier this year selected Loganton-based Albertin Vernon Architecture, LLC, run by partners Glenn Vernon and Claudia Albertin, to conduct the feasibility study. All of the grant funds go toward the study.
Albertin Vernon has completed feasibility and market analysis reports for a variety of National Register listed projects, including the Clarks Ferry Tavern in Duncannon; Embassy Theater in Lewistown and the Crider Exchange Building in Bellefonte. The firm is currently preparing construction drawings for rehabilitation of the National Register listed Gamble Mill in Bellefonte, and secured National Register listing for the 300,000-square-foot, Williamsport Pajama Factory.
Lock Haven City Council, meanwhile, has pledged to provide the required dollar-for-dollar match of Downtown Lock Haven's PHMC grant with a $10,000, Municipal Assistance Program grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, should it be awarded.
"Downtown Lock Haven is very excited to hear the good news from the PHMC and we look forward to more good news on the matching grant. Downtown businesses and city residents alike have made it loud and clear: We need to attract more visitors downtown and more people in general to frequent our businesses, our community, the Riverwalk and various local and area events and we believe that's just what a Cultural and Performing Arts Center can help to do," said Marie Vilello, downtown manager.
The Masonic Lodge has essentially offered to gift the 1920s-era building at the corner of Main and Grove streets to DLH with contingencies, primarily that the building be used for community use.
In it's application to the PHMC, the downtown board said this: "DLH seeks to preserve and adapt the building into a cultural, business and performing arts center to attract visitors, tourists and residents into Lock Haven to stimulate the economy and showcase its history by collaborating with the Clinton County Arts Council (CCAC), the driving force for arts in the region.
"Led by DLH and the CCAC, this project will substantially grow collaborations between various organizations and institutions throughout Clinton County. Through conversations with individuals, local government and business leaders, DLH has already learned that public support is overwhelmingly favorable for a centrally located multi-purpose facility in serving a variety of community-driven programs and events. Although the project is already listed on the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) as a $3.2 million Capital Budget line item, funding this feasibility study will go a long way toward securing those funds as well as kickstarting funding efforts from a variety of other sources, including private donations, and state and federal grants," the grant reads.
The PHMC, meanwhile. awarded 52 grants selected from 94 eligible applications. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 for project grants and $5,000 to $100,000 for construction projects. All grants require a 50/50 cash match and were awarded through a competitive selection process.
The Centre County Historical Society was awarded $100,000 for projects it is undertaking.
"We are pleased to support these important projects from across the Commonwealth. It is rewarding to impact communities in 24 different counties," said PHMC Executive Director Andrea Lowery. "The selected projects represent the breadth of historic resources that Pennsylvanians value - from cornerstone buildings in their downtowns, to covered bridges and significant archaeological sites. This investment ensures that Pennsylvania's cultural memory will be preserved for future generations."
Keystone Historic Preservation Grants provide funding to support projects that identify, preserve, promote and protect historic and archaeological resources in Pennsylvania for both the benefit of the public and the revitalization of communities. Funding also supports municipal planning initiatives that focus on historic resources or may be used to meet building or community specific planning goals. The program also supports construction activities at resources listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
These grants receive funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. This fund is supported annually from a portion of the state realty transfer tax revenue.