In FY25, the Bartow CRA acquired the historic Orpheum Theatre on East Main Street, a property whose location alone makes it one of the most consequential buildings on the corridor. The acquisition was part of a broader strategy to put the District’s most important downtown buildings into hands committed to their long-term stewardship.
The Orpheum is a building with potential, not yet a building with a defined plan. The CRA paid $100,000 to acquire the property, and the focus now is on getting the next move right. Three interior design options are currently under architectural review. Each lays out a different vision for how the space could be reactivated: what kind of programming it could host, how the interior could be reorganized, and what investment would be required to bring each concept to life.
The right answer matters. A property like the Orpheum does not get redeveloped twice. Done well, it becomes an anchor that pulls foot traffic and energy back to Main Street, and the restaurants, shops, and small businesses on either side benefit from the activity it draws. Done poorly, it becomes another deferred decision.
The CRA Board is approaching this work the way it approaches every strategic acquisition: with patience for the planning phase, and with confidence that the right concept will reveal itself through review. When a final concept is approved, the project will move into design and renovation.
In the meantime, the building stays standing, the CRA controls its future, and Main Street keeps one of its most distinctive properties in public hands.
