Today, Mayor Fenty, DMPED Valerie-Joy Santos and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham joined residents and musical artists for a ground breaking to restore the historic Howard Theatre to its original 1910 façade and grandeur.

Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Valerie-Joy Santos and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham joined Ward 1 residents and musical artists for a ground breaking to restore the historic Howard Theatre at 620 T Street, NW to its original 1910 façade and grandeur.

“This is a momentous day for District residents said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “For far too long, the Howard Theatre has sat vacant and dilapidated. For the past three years, we have worked hard to decrease blight in the city while creating economic opportunities and increasing the quality of life by providing cultural and recreational opportunities. When the Howard Theatre reopens, a new generation of residents will have the opportunity to affordable musical and cultural events.”

The Shaw – U Street corridor is undergoing great change and revitalization. Last month the District unveiled the new $15 million Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library and yesterday broke ground on the City Market at O Street, which is set to include 87,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space as well as more than 600 units of affordable housing.

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the Howard Theatre was the nation’s first full-sized theater for African American audiences and entertainers. Originally constructed as a variety hall featuring vaudeville performances, musicals, circuses, local variety programs, movies and community events, Howard Theatre hosted luminary artists like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Diana Ross and even is the location where Ella Fitzgerald was discovered.

The renovations of the new Howard Theatre include a 34,000 square-foot multipurpose entertainment venue, a museum, a restaurant, and an educational center. Renovations are expected to be complete December 2011 for a total of $25 million. DMPED provided an $8 million grant and $4 million in Great Streets Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the project. The developers for the project are the Howard Theatre Restoration Inc. and Howard Theatre Development Group.

Media Contacts

• Jennifer Nguyen - (202) 340-8420