HOLYOKE -- Architects working on the rehabilitation of the Victory Theater at 81-98 Suffolk St. submitted final drafts to the Holyoke Planning Board on Tuesday.
The board reviewed and approved fence heights, a parking reduction plan and the theater's marquee.
Donald T. Sanders, executive director of the Massachusetts Festival of the Arts, which owns the theater, said the board's approval represented a significant milestone in the project.
The historic 1,600-seat theater opened in 1920 and closed in 1979. MIFA bought the city-owned property in 2009 for $1,500.
Estimates on the renovation rage from $30 million to $45 million. MIFA has secured $18 million in federal New Market and Historic Tax Credits and other funding. In August, the Baker administration announced an additional $13 million in state funding.
This week the Holyoke Planning Board approved the final architectural drawings presented by Mark Arigoni, of Milone & MacBroom, and Michael Viveiros, of DBVW Architects.
"What's exciting is the enthusiasm for this project," Sanders said. "It's a very emotional day for me because 15 years ago we had Baryshnikov in Holyoke to kick off this project."
Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov performed at the War Memorial Auditorium on Jan. 23 and 24, 2004.
MIFA hired Milone & MacBroom, of Springfield, as the project engineers. Barr & Barr, of Natick, will lead the construction team.
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