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Alberta Bair Theatre looks ahead to remodel after council OKs encroachment permit

Posted at 6:33 PM, Dec 18, 2018
and last updated 2019-07-17 14:50:43-04

BILLINGS- It’s onward and outward for the Alberta Bair Theater after the Billings City Council voted Monday to allow a street encroachment permit for the theater to expand.

This means when construction begins in the spring of 2019, the Alberta Bair will expand landscaping and a plaza to the south side of the theater along with Third Avenue North.

It’s one hurdle Executive Director Jan Dietrich says the theater has cleared, but there are more ahead.

She says there are many remodeling decisions to work out with architects and construction crews.

The theatre will close May 1 to begin the multi-million dollar renovation and construction.

After learning the council approved the plans last night, Dietrich told Q2 News it’s an exciting time for downtown Billings.

“I think it’s fabulous for our downtown, as far as One Big Sky Center, what the Babcock is doing right now. Art House with phase two, the theatre, but also for the larger community,” she said.

“If you want to draw people to Billings, we need to have offerings culturally for them. So I think it’s a very exciting time for Billings and our larger community,” said Dietrich.

The Alberta Bair’s fundraising goal is $12 million. Dietrich said they have so far raised $10 million.