City approves grant for historic Howard Theatre’s roof revamp
Taylor is stepping up to help with efforts to revive the historic Howard Theatre.
Members of the Main Street Advisory Board Wednesday approved up to a $20,000 Facade Improvement grant for owners Clint Morgan and Channing Kingery-Boles to help reimburse half of the cost of repairing the roof of the 100-year-old land- mark at 308 N. Main St.
“We are very grateful and happy,” said Morgan, who purchased the property with his spouse in January. “We really need it and are excited we are going to be able to bring The Howard back for everybody. This will just help us so much.”
At the meeting, Cody Witt, owner of Witt Contracting Solutions, said the repairs are estimated to cost nearly $40,000 and will help stem persistent leaking, as well as other costly problems.
“Essentially the problem with the roof right now is it’s two different types of roofing systems,” Witt said. “It’s a flat roof, and it doesn’t drain, so we have to get the water off the roof as fast as possible right now. There are not enough drainage holes on it for the water to evaporate off the roof in a timely manner, which is causing it to kind of build a swimming pool on top of the Howard Theatre.”
Witt said he will also be working to pull up the shingles and put down a five-star-energy rated silicone roof coating, which will also help with heating and cooling.
“This is the only product on the market that can handle standing water, ponding water,” Witt said. “On top of waterproofing, it’s going to drastically decrease the internal temperature of the building, which will help with air conditioning and everything.” Jan Harris, the city’s Main Street manager, said the taxfunded facade grants are designed to help with historic preservation and enhance the curb appeal of downtown businesses.
“An improved downtown building will bring in higher and better tenants, which will bring in more tax, and it will go around and around,” Harris said. “It is in our interest to improve downtown because it’s the heart of this community, and I think when industries are looking at us, that is what they look at.”
Harris said unlike some other Main Street programs across the country, Taylor is relatively unique in that the city also allows facade grants to also be used for roofs.
“We recognize that buildings have five facades: all four walls and a roof,” she said. “Because if a building does not have a secure roof on it that keeps it impervious to the elements outside, then that building is on borrowed time. It will slowly demolish itself. It will be a case of demolition by neglect.”
Harris said she was delighted the board approved the project due to the importance of the Howard Theatre to the community.
“It’s an iconic building,” Harris said. “Everyone loves a theater ... There are generations of kids and adults that have spent quality hours at the building, making memories that they will have for the rest of their lives. I just want it to be restored and brought back online. I want it to be generating money and being an active part of the downtown again.”
Earlier this summer, Morgan and Kingery-Boles were also approved for up to $50,000 in grants for renovations to the theater from Taylor Economic Development Corp.
Kingery-Boles said despite daunting challenges, she hopes these funds will bring them closer to their goal of reopening the venue in January 2025.
“As you know, with every dollar, we find a place for it,” Kingery-Boles said. “I am so grateful to Cody and everyone who came out to support us — and to the board approving this grant and having this program available for business owners. This really makes a difference.”
