An ambitious plan is being formulated to resurrect the State Theater in downtown Benton Harbor as an entertainment venue for both live and film/recorded presentations. It’s being spearheaded by the Benton Harbor Downtown Development Authority and its Chairman Richard Hensel. The DDA took possession of the State Theater last Wednesday. The property was transferred via a donation of the property from owner Steven Brickman of South Haven, valued at approximately $400,000.
Hensel, who has been involved in trying to save and restore the building for many years, told MoodyOnTheMarket.com that a recent $100,000 cash donation to the DDA from a local family foundation set the wheels in motion to launch the project: first to acquire the building and stabilize it, then restore and revitalize the building for an exciting future of community use. The benefactor family has requested to remain anonymous.
Hensel said the theater has been dormant—and unheated—for at least 14 years. So, the immediate challenge is to patch a leaky roof and “dry out” the building, while engineers and architects figure out what’s necessary, and then what else may be possible in restoring the structure to its former prominence. He hopes to engage the Wightman engineering firm to begin that analysis and planning effort soon.
The State Theater opened 80 years ago, May 14, 1942. World War II was raging and Twin Cities residents were excited to have another ‘state of the art’ movie house to go to. It closed about 40 years later—along with most other retail activity in downtown Benton Harbor as the region’s economic center shifted to the Orchards Mall area in Benton Township.
There were several attempts to re-purpose the State, including an 80’s after-school youth program that lasted several years, driven by community organizer Sherron Weeks. Later, a non-profit group re-opened it as a movie theater. And, briefly, it hosted community activities, including Habitat for Humanity gatherings with Former President Jimmy Carter, who visited the city several times on his Habitat home-building campaign.
Hensel and his DDA committee believe the future of the State is as a multi-purpose theater and event center. However, that new role is probably at least three years in the future. A preliminary estimate says it will take $1.5 Million dollars to perform the basic repairs and restoration, before any specialized new equipment or technology is added. He speculates it might take a year to stabilize the building and then focus first on the exterior restoration, which will help convey the ‘vision’ for the project to the community and drive additional fund raising. Year two would involve the interior re-purposing and redecoration. And, by three years out, he optimistically sees the new space occupied and functioning.
Hensel believes the State can serve as a medium size venue that fits in between several small theater spaces in the area and the 1500 seat Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College. He envisions, for example, that a commercially viable theater festival could be developed in downtown Benton Harbor, with the Citadel, Ghostlight and State theaters all involved. He predicts the final seating capacity of the remodeled State will be approximately 500 seats, slightly larger than its present seating layout. And he envisions that eventually catered food and beverage service would be available on site to facilitate quality shows and events.
Hensel points to economic research that shows Northern Berrien County residents spend $66 Million dollars a year on entertainment and consumers in a 40-mile radius spend $190 Million a year. He cites success of multi-dimensional venues like the Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks as proof that residents are looking for a wide range of music, live drama and performance, and film entertainment.
The vision Hensel shares for the return to glory of the State Theater includes a striking exterior look that harkens back to 1942 and would be a highlight on Benton Harbor’s Main Street. His eyes light up as he tells us, “The theater marquee was burgundy, white and gold. The walls were cobalt blue and white glazed brick, with glass block windows into the lobby space on either side of the entrance.” The glazed brick and glass blocks are said to still be under a layer of surface tiles added in the 1960’s. Hensel hopes that distinctive 40’s-era look can be recreated for a new century.
The State Theater project is the largest ever undertaken by the Benton Harbor DDA. The group was inactive for decades. But in recent years, it’s taken on several ‘feel good’ and tourism development efforts. The downtown Benton Harbor holiday lights improvements and lighting ceremonies were organized by the DDA. And this year’s addition of a DDA Welcome Center at 5th and Territorial was so successful that its Summer run has been extended through December. The Welcome Center is housed in several large brightly painted shipping containers.
Hensel says his DDA group is good at pulling together the efforts of multiple organizations and funding sources. And he’s hoping that continues for the theater project. For example, he hopes that a Brownfield Authority grant might be a next step in the theater restoration, following the planning and stabilization phase funded by the anonymous foundation donation.
Hensel says the DDA has felt strong support for the project from Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammed, City Manager Ellis Mitchell, Community Development Director Alex Little and the City Commission. Commissioner Jerry Edwards is a member of Hensel’s special DDA committee on the project that also includes Linda Allen, Virgil Hatcher and Bill Stohler. Hensel looks forward to potential support and partnerships with larger groups like the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council and Cornerstone Alliance.
The DDA has recently added a new website showcasing its activities and offering local small businesses a way to connect with each other. More information at BentonHarborNOW.com
