Photo: Paramount Project Facebook page

The Kinston City Council approved a $20,000 preservation and restoration grant for the Paramount Theater, a historic cultural venue in downtown Kinston, during a recent city council meeting. The grant is part of a broader effort to rehabilitate the theater, which is now owned by the nonprofit Smart Kinston City Project Foundation.

City Manager Rhonda Barwick introduced the proposal, emphasizing the significance of the theater to Kinston and Lenoir County's cultural and tourism sectors. "The Paramount was donated to Smart Kinston in 2020 with the goal of rehabilitating the historic property for use as a multifunctional performing arts and theater venue," Barwick said. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, aims to contribute to the county's creative economy by restoring the theater.

The $20,000 grant from the city will be combined with funds raised by Smart Kinston and a matching grant of $20,000 that the Lenoir County Commissioners will consider at their next meeting. Barwick noted that the council's contribution would be drawn from the Queen Street Rehabilitation project funds.

Stephen Hill, representing Smart Kinston City Project Foundation, outlined the initial steps of the restoration project. "Right now, all we're going to do is the marquee, light it up, and first of all, we're going to take all the old stucco off the building and re-stucco it," Hill said. "We'll paint it black and white like it was and redo the lights. That's all we can afford right now."

While the current funding only covers exterior work, including the marquee restoration and brickwork, Hill expressed optimism about future developments. "The inside is not as bad as you think," Hill added. "It's going to take some air conditioning and another half a million dollars, but at least we'll have something that people can get excited about."

The council's approval of the grant marks a crucial step in the revitalization of the Paramount Theater, which has been a key cultural asset in Kinston for many years. The restoration is expected to bring renewed energy to Queen Street and contribute to the ongoing efforts to boost the downtown area's cultural and economic vitality.

The motion to approve the grant was passed unanimously by the council, with Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Hardy presiding over the meeting.