BY LIZZY SPANGLER
Diving in deeper
What's next
The GCAA organizations are nonprofits, with participants volunteering, arts officials said. The city contributes funding to the organizations through annual grants, and City Council allocated $210,000 to 15 organizations in fiscal year 2023-24, according to the Dec. 13 workshop meeting packet. “We’re grateful,” Spikes said. “Many of our organizations are able to do what they do because of that grant.” However, local arts officials said their growth is capped due to the limitations of the existing infrastructure. Local arts officials said the city’s two theaters are nearly always booked, and more walls are needed for art as the GCAA’s gallery is limited in its space. “Our orchestra is larger than the stage that they can fit on,” Spikes said. “At Christmastime this year, we had an absolute capacity crowd in a church that is estimated to be able to seat 900 people. … It just goes back to the need. We are totally capped.”
Overland Property Group plans to redevelop the Lewis Street property into income- based family housing. Engstrom said the company will learn in late July if it will receive tax credit funding, which would subsidize 70% of the development cost. “It’s good for the city because they’re collecting tax revenue,” Engstrom said. “And then it’s good for the town because people can afford to live where they work.” If the company is not awarded the funding, Engstrom said it will apply again next year should nothing happen with the property. Meanwhile, Spikes said arts organizations won’t stop advocating for the arts. “We’re going to continue to explore the possibilities,” Spikes said. “We would still like to be a part of discussions with the city. … I just hope that they have plans for the future as we have plans for the future.”
Owen Theatre
225 Metcalf St., Conroe
Built in 1946
250 seats
Crighton Theatre
234 N. Main St., Conroe
Built in 1934
528 seats
SOURCES: OWEN THEATRE, CRIGHTON THEATRE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SHOP DONATE VOLUNTEER
www.assistanceleague.org/montgomery-county 936-760-1151 | 126 N San Jacinto St | Conroe, TX 77301
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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION
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