Lebowsky Center rebuilding update

posted by steelbeard1 on October 16, 2007 at 7:30 am

OWOSSO, MI — While work continues to prepare the Lebowsky Center for rebuilding, Owosso Police have a ‘person of interest’ in their ongoing arson investigation of that theater. But they are not yet ready to make an arrest. The Owosso Community Players which own the theater are working on a master plan for the theater. They said crews hope to get the new framework up by winter. While they can’t promise they will get a roof up by winter, it is certainly their goal.

While the OCP did get some insurance money, they are $100,000 short of their goal to pay for new walls and a new roof. The OCP has made significant progress in cleaning up the Lebowsky and surrounding buildings and are moving supplies back to the Hoddy Building which is behind the theater. Repairs to the portion of the Chemical Bank building donated to the OCP are almost finished and the two law offices on the second floor of that building plan to move back in shortly. That building will be called “the annex” and the OCP plans to have dinner theater and other events in that building.

Meanwhile, Ronnie McDowell held two concerts Sunday, October 14 at Owosso Middle School, the OCP’s temporary home. All the proceeds from the concerts will go to the cost of rebuilding the Lebowsky Center.

Additional info from The Argus-Press and WJRT.

Also, Owosso has been awarded the $1 million Vibrant Small Cities Initiative grant from the Michigan State Housing Authority. Part of this grant is to be used to rebuild the Lebowsky Center. Info on this story from The Argus-Press.

Theaters in this post

• Joseph H. Lebowsky Center