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The rebirth of the Capitol Theater is underway, and those involved agree that it will be a boost to the near North End and its largely immigrant community and act as an anchor on Acushnet Avenue.
New Bedford Light columnist Jack Spillane explored the effort to reinvigorate the Theater in the latest episode of The Chat, with Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) director Corrin Williams, local architect, preservationist, and environmentalist Kathryn Duff, CEDC project director Elizabeth K. Murphy, CEDC deputy director Brian Pastori and Ward 2 Councilor Maria Giesta.
For 40 years, the block where the Theater sits has sat empty. But thanks to an $11 million multi-year effort by the CEDC, it will be rebuilt as an engine for economic opportunity.
Plans for the 21,000 square-foot building include a CEDC headquarters, community bank, community health center, six low-income apartments, business incubator space and possible recreational space. The government-funded effort has been endorsed by Mayor Jon Mitchell and the City Council.
The Chat archives
Register for The Chat: The budget crisis in Massachusetts cities and towns
Join Jack Spillane on June 18 at 1 p.m. for a discussion with two experts on how municipal budgets are crafted in Massachusetts and what, if anything, might help the situation.
O’Leary, DeLoach, Furtado Jr. working together for New Bedford students
The leaders of the city’s public schools joined the conversation to discuss collaboration and working toward a common goal. Watch the entire Chat.
Mitchell on his goals for the city, the budget, and immigration enforcement
In an hour-long one-on-one with The Light, the mayor hit on everything from education to wind to police to standing up for New Bedford.
The Capital Theater was a neighborhood theater. People would walk the blocks to go there. From the looks of it, there seems to be some anticipation of drawing the public in from outside the neighborhood. My question is, where are they going to park?
I think they should invest in making the theater space something similar to the Zeiterion. It would not only serve to entertain the community with music, comedy, poetry etc. it would bring in some much needed funds for other types of venues in the future. Just something to ponder. If parking can be found for the Portuguese Feast…I’m sure people will find a place to park. Let’s breath some more pleasant life into the neighborhood.
Dad would send us to the Saturday double feature. It may have been 15 cents in the 50’s.
I distinctly remember The High and the Mighty and 12 O’clock High. And the old carpets. And cigarette machine on the back wall.
Rebuilding that theatre is a total waste of money, there wasn’t even enough demand to keep Cinema 140 open, but people seem to think the Capitol theatre is going to do well, I just don’t see it, but I guess we’ll find out.
“Plans for the 21,000 square-foot building include a CEDC headquarters, community bank, community health center, six low-income apartments, business incubator space and possible recreational space.”