POLK COUNTY -- The city of St. Croix Falls is proud to announce the commencement of historic building redevelopment of the historic Civic Auditorium building.
Representatives from Spiderwebb Capital with Mayor Kirk Anderson announced the commencement of the historic building redevelopment of the Civic Auditorium building on Tuesday March 30th, 2021.
The historical redevelopment plans call for the renovation of the theatre building, an upgrade of the performance hall, as well as expansions that include restaurant space, and an outdoor gathering space that celebrate and capitalize on the view of the St. Croix River.
The restoration and expansion of the Civic Auditorium is a catalyst for commercial redevelopment of adjacent property with the potential to create 70 full-time and part-time hospitality and performing arts jobs as well as local construction jobs.
The historic Civic Auditorium, which was built in 1917 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 2007. It was designed to host touring vaudeville troupes as well as touring opera and theater companies. The upper-level performance hall served as a movie house until 1985, stood empty for just a few short years, and then in 1990 became the home of the Festival Theatre, a professional theatre company. The street level space was a community center for many years, and in the 1940's hosted a series of small sewing factories, later becoming City office space and finally the municipal library from 1970 through 2009.
The project will be funded by a unique combination of public & private investments coming from the Tax Increment District, Grants, Corporate Sponsorships, Individual Donors, and the State of Wisconsin Community Development Investment Grant.
None of this would be possible without our many local partners and generous individual, corporate and foundation donors who have helped us reach this point in our story. We would especially like to thank the following redevelopment partners:
- Friends of the Civic Auditorium Festival Theater
- St. Croix Falls Centennial Committee Hugh J Andersen Foundation
- Andersen Corporation Hardenbergh Foundation Fred C. and Katherine B Anderson Foundation Ravenholt Foundation
- Studio M Architects
- New History (Architects)
- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Last Update: Mar 31, 2021 2:43 pm CDT
