Hello Lambertville neighbors and friends, 

We have a shared love of this very special little city on the rivers edge.  We are fortunate to call this place home. 

As many of you know, I have been working diligently for almost 3 years to navigate the financial, structural, and legal hurdles involved in saving the historic significance of the old Strand Theatre at 12 Coryell Street in Lambertville. The theatre was built in 1915 and hosted movies and live vaudeville shows.  It was the first movie house built in the city, and the last one remaining until a fire in 1969 gutted the interior. The building has remained shuttered as a warehouse without heat and plumbing for over 50 years.

Renovation plans are fully approved by all governing bodies. Construction documents are complete and include a Gallery Lobby for rotating shows, a mixed-use assembly space wired with broadcast capabilities, two dressing rooms/studios, and a live/work painting studio.

Progress has been delayed by litigation filed by one neighbor, but in a silver lining kind of way - it seems that the universe may have had my back! The Strand Theatre renovation project is eligible for a Historic Tax Credit through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.  The fact that ALL of my required documentation is complete, yet no work has begun, finds me in a very fortunate and timely position of being eligible for this credit. This tax credit award could cover up to 40% of the eligible construction costs. An additional application for a Federal Tax Credit could cover another 20%. This would go a tremendous distance in turning the Strand Theatre back into the cultural and community asset that it once was. 

The Historic Tax Credit is a competitive grant based on several factors, one of them being the "positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood" and how the project will "fulfill an unmet need". Considering that once renovated, the old Strand Theatre will serve as the only mixed-use assembly space dedicated to the arts in the city of Lambertville, I think we have that one covered.  

The Historic Tax Credit application requests letters of support from community groups.  While I'm pleased to have letters of support from the Lambertville Historical Society, Mayor Nowick, and the Lambertville Chamber of Commerce, the largest community 'group' we have is our residents - our neighbors - our friends. Many of you have asked how you can help, and I now have an easy answer for you that will have a very valuable impact! Please sign this petition to show your support and enthusiasm for the renovation of the Strand Theatre, and to ask the review committee's at the state and national level to support my application for a tax credit to renovate the Strand Theatre back into a thriving art house.

Strand Arts LLC (the building will still say Strand Theatre at the top) will be a multi-use art house with a mission to inspire bold and collaborative artistic experiences. Visual, musical, and performance art produced in the spirit of excellence and curiosity for our residents and visitors alike.  

Your support is very meaningful. This has been an uphill climb in a lot of new territory, but we are almost at the top. I look forward to dancing up there with all of you. 

Kelly Sullivan