Exciting Developments for Downtown Myrtle Beach’s New Theater Project

Exciting Developments for Downtown Myrtle Beach’s New Theater

Myrtle Beach is buzzing with chatter about the new theater project planned for downtown. It’s a big deal—a proposed budget of $22 million that could climb to around $31 million with added interests and renos. The project is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s a cultural investment that many residents feel passionately about, whether in favor or against.

What’s Happening?

Last month, some of the local excitement reached new heights when The Sun News filed a Freedom of Information Act request to dig deeper into the city council’s emails regarding the theater. You’d expect a treasure trove of discussions, right? Well, the city’s response was a bit of a surprise—it turned out there was only one email! It had been sent on July 4, 2024, and interestingly, it was more about Coastal Carolina University’s new library than the theater project itself.

A Council Member Weighs In

Council member Bill McClure recently mentioned that the emails he has received regarding the theater project show a mix of opinions. “I don’t have an exact count, but it’s over two dozen emails. Of those, I’d say about 70% question if this is the right project for our city,” he noted. This reflects the diverse feelings in our community about what we want for our downtown area.

Details of the Project

If you’re wondering what the theater entails, here’s the scoop: the plan is to gut renovate three historical buildings in downtown Myrtle Beach and develop a 300-seat theater in partnership with CCU. Sounds fancy, right? The lease agreement is quite interesting too—it allows the university a minimum of 150 days of use for performances, while the city retains 30 use days each year. It’s like a shared community space for everyone to enjoy!

Community Participation and Feedback

As the project moves forward, the city is eager to engage with its residents. At the groundbreaking ceremony held on July 22, 2024, there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air. But as we’ve seen with the mixed email feedback, it’s clear that the community is filled with differing views. The city has even set up a process for gathering these thoughts, and they’ve tapped into their Information Technology department to comb through and collect emails for transparency. Unfortunately, it seems like they didn’t hit a jackpot with the information this time.

Looking Ahead

Construction is set to wrap up by Summer 2026, giving us all something to look forward to! Whether you’re excited about the performances, or just curious to see how this development transforms our downtown area, one thing is for sure: this is going to be a conversation starter for a long while. As we move ahead, let’s keep the dialogue flowing. After all, this is our Myrtle Beach, and we should all have a say in what the future looks like!

So, what do you think about the new theater? Are you all in for it, or do you have reservations? One thing’s for sure—we’re all in this together as a community, and that makes Myrtle Beach an even better place to call home!