BLT Facility News

OUR PAST

We all know that the events of July 13th changed forever the way we take part in our community theater. We are moving forward, but issues surrounding the crash are still being dealt with every day.

We have hired a lawyer to represent the theater’s best interests and negotiate with our insurance company. This individual is working with us to make sure that we get a fair settlement that incorporates our loss as a whole. Asbestos testing was done at the site and unfortunately we tested positive for asbestos in the exterior siding and in the flooring under the carpet in the lobby. We again ask all members to please not attempt to enter the building as this, along with the mold that has attacked the building due to moisture, makes the conditions inside hazardous at this time. We are in the process of getting not only estimates for asbestos abatement but also for demolition of the damaged structure. We will push for a settlement after these estimates come in and hope that, with the help of our attorney, we will reach a fair settlement. Please be aware that, unfortunately, this can be a long process. Through this newsletter we will keep the membership updated as information becomes available.

OUR PRESENT

In order to make sure that we continue to bring great theater to the Baytown community while we find our “forever home,” we have been lucky enough to work with Jay Eshbach, one of our Angels, to remodel a space he owns on Hugh Echols Blvd. This will serve as a temporary home which we will rent while we build our dream theater. It had been casually referred to as BLT2 and the name seems to have stuck.

We are renovating the space to include a stage area and seating for around 100 patrons. The work is moving along nicely and we feel certain we will open Kiss and Tell there on Nov. 30th. There will be an open house at a date and time set in the future to let people look around, and a Grand Opening Celebration will be planned soon. Though it will certainly feel different from our original BLT structure, we know that we can make great theater wherever we are and will continue to do so in our temporary space!

OUR FUTURE

In order to make any decisions regarding our future home we will need input from all members to decide on a location. In order to secure this input regarding members’ opinions, we are including in this newsletter a survey that we feel gives every member a chance to let their voice be heard and their opinions counted. PLEASE make sure to complete the survey.

As soon as we decide on a location, we will move forward with design and construction. Our fundraising campaign will also begin as soon as the location is finalized.

(as printed in the November 2007 issue of the BLT BUZZ)