Town architectural board approves partial plan
Representatives from the Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community (RAAC) presented preliminary designs for its renovation of the Little Washington Theatre to the town’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) Monday night.
Parts of the design plans were approved such as the overall design of the new structure, the roofing and stucco walls on the exterior. Other aspects, such as window materials, siding, fencing and exterior lighting were struck from the certificate of appropriateness, and the board asked to see more detail and samples of the materials at the next presentation.
The 178-seat historic Little Washington Theatre, at 291 Gay St., was built as a movie theater in 1945 before becoming a performing arts theater in the 1980s. The building was donated to RAAC by Nancy Raines in 2023.
A rendering of a proposed layout for the theater’s new lobby. (Courtesy/RAAC)
Matthew Black, president of RAAC, told the board that the renovation project, which is expected to cost over $2 million, is driven by a need to address several key issues:
- Lack of a proper lobby for patrons to gather before and after shows. Black said the “hallway” that acts as a lobby now often bottlenecks as people flow out of the theater and have to stand outside.
- The building needs to be improved, and Black said it is not currently in compliance with many ADA standards. “One of our priorities is to make the accessibility not only better but safer, so that everyone can attend,” he said.
- There is only one bathroom which users have to step up to enter. Black said two more bathrooms will be added to the front of the house that will be ADA compliant, and one at the back for performers.
- There is no space for building sets, storing materials and props, or people moving around backstage during performances. The renovation will add a proper backstage area, Black said, and storage space under the stage.
- The inside of the theater will be updated, with adjustments for better acoustics. The the theater a little bit without walking away from its roots,” he said.
- organization is also exploring pricing for reupholstering the theater’s seats.
- Black said the exterior of the building will also be updated. “We want to dress up The balcony will be updated for technical and lighting space. Black said there will not be seating in the balcony when renovated.
Matthew Black, president of RAAC, presents to the ARB at its meeting Nov. 17 about plans for a renovation of the Little Washington Theatre. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)
“We simply need more space to produce our popular plays, and to better accommodate community groups, and present outside music and dramatic offerings,” RAAC wrote in its case statement for the project.
Black said fundraising has been successful, and that financially, “this is going to happen.”
RAAC recently appeared before the town’s Planning Commission requesting a zoning adjustment to an empty lot behind the theater that the organization purchased. The request was approved, and the new lot will include part of the theater’s extension, but Black said Monday that only about one quarter of that lot will be constructed on, and the rest will be landscaping.
ARB members provided comments about the exterior design, asking to see options for different fonts for the marquee sign on the front facade, and recommending the group consider changing the plans from aluminum windows to all wood.
“I’m not quite sure yet that it fits the town, but I’m feeling myself getting more and more comfortable with it,” ARB secretary Ryan Crabbe said. “We’ve got time to continue the conversation and talk about the lighting and the signage, details and specs, because all that stuff really matters and does have an effect, particularly in a historic district.”
“So in concept, you’re cool, but we aren’t going to officially approve [all of the application] tonight, and we’ll approve that next. So far, I’m not seeing any roadblocks,” ARB member Drew Mitchell said. “You’re in good shape.”
He added that this will definitely be a two-part, if not three-part, process for total approval of the renovation.
RAAC now will be able to begin submitting site plans and applying for building permits on the parts of the plan the ARB unanimously approved.
