Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

December 5, 2012

Editorial: Vogue closer to its goal

----

They're close enough to smell the popcorn.

Thanks to a $15,000 gift from Northwestern Bank the historic Vogue Theatre in downtown Manistee is a step closer to raising the $2.3 million needed to restore and reopen the vintage movie house and to be in the running for a $500,000 Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant.

Steve Brower, chair of the Vogue's capital campaign, said the group has raised $1.1 million so far. He said the restoration fund is seeking donations from a few foundations and several individuals are looking at making end-of-year gifts.

Construction is expected to begin in January, with interior work finished in April and exterior improvements continuing after that. That work is out for bid now and the group is hoping for price breaks from contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.

Home Depot has pledged to offer discounts while securing price cuts from some suppliers.

If restoring and reopening the Vogue provides the same kind of economic kick for Manistee as redoing the State Theatre has done for Traverse City, restoration work will be worth every penny.

Text Only

Opinion Poll

AP Video
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled