Rep. Scanlon Brings Home $1.5 Million in Federal Funding for Historic Lansdowne Theater

This press release was sent by the Office of Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon on April 26, 2022.

Lansdowne, PA – On Monday, April 25, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) visited Lansdowne Theater to announce $1.5 million in Community Project Funding she recently secured for the theater. It is one of 10 Community Project Funding awards Scanlon delivered for her district as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 federal government funding package passed by Congress in March. Senator Bob Casey also supported the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation’s application for Community Project Funding.

“I am incredibly proud to have secured much-needed funding for 10 projects that I know will be game-changers for the communities where they are located — including the $1.5 million awarded to the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Restoring this local jewel will help breathe new life into the surrounding community and attract more arts, culture, and businesses to the area. I want to commend HLTC’s commitment to keeping as much of this money in Lansdowne and the surrounding areas of Delaware County as possible. Keeping these taxpayer dollars circulating in our community and delivering an exponential economic impact is incredibly important. I could not be more excited about this project, and I look forward to being one of the theater’s patrons once the project is complete.”

“The Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation and hundreds of our supporters are grateful to Representative Scanlon and Senator Casey for securing this $1.5 million grant,” said Matt Schultz, Executive Director, Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation. “It is incredibly challenging to secure the capital necessary to complete a project of this size. Through their leadership, we will reach our goal of restoring this important historic landmark and creating an engine to drive economic development in eastern Delaware County.”

The Lansdowne Theater opened in 1927, hosting film screenings and live performances for 60 years until it closed in 1987 following an electrical fire. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places that same year (1987). The Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation (HLTC) purchased the building in 2007 and has already completed a number of repairs, including the removal of damaged seats, restoring the ticket booth and marquee, and remediation of asbestos.

With the Community Project Funding grant secured by Scanlon and Casey, HLTC has $16.1 million of the $16.5 million needed to complete its planned renovations. The HLTC will rehabilitate the theater into a regional concert hall — spurring investment along the Lansdowne Avenue commercial corridor. This is the largest economic development project in the community’s history. Upcoming capital repairs include replacement of the mechanical and HVAC systems, roof repairs, restrooms, a rainwater runoff system, theater seating, restoration of historic finishes and related equipment, and a proposed one-story addition. The project is anticipated to create around 50 jobs in the operation of the theater, plus an estimated 100 jobs for the trades during construction and additional permanent jobs in businesses nearby once the theater is reopened.

The Fiscal Year 2022 spending bill provides $1.5 trillion in discretionary resources, including nearly $8.5 million in Community Project Funding secured by Scanlon for organizations in PA-05. Additional information on the Community Project Funding awards in Scanlon’s district is available here.

This press release was sent by the Office of Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon on April 26, 2022.