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COLUMBUS — The Columbus Historical Preservation Trust soon will install a smoke detection system and purchase automated external defibrillators as part of ongoing renovations to the Stafford Opera House, thanks to an $11,437 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $3,800 in matching funds from the preservation trust, will help enable the group to reopen the opera house for public and private events with new building features that comply with city code and ADA standards.
Julie Prause, president of the preservation trust, said the opera house in downtown Columbus serves as a cornerstone of Columbus’ historic district, but has been closed on and off for event bookings since the beginning of the pandemic because of safety issues and outdated infrastructure. When it reopens, the venue will continue to host a variety of educational, social and entertainment events.
“These upgrades are a significant step in restoring the opera house to its former glory as a regional cultural hub,” Prause said. “With a building as old as this one, built in 1886, we’re always looking for ways to improve its safety and bring it up to code. We are excited to welcome more events and provide a safe space for the community to gather.”
The addition of a smoke detection system and AEDs are part of the larger “Save Our Opera House” campaign efforts to restore the building after decades of deferred maintenance.
“This grant really is a special gift from LCRA that allows us to keep improving the building in different ways,” Prause said. “So far, we have replaced the flooring, remodeled and redecorated. We also plan to renovate the bathrooms in the grand hall and hope to add a more extensive fire alarm system by installing sprinklers in the future. This is another step in the right direction to continue hosting vital community programs, from bingo nights for seniors to weddings and educational events.”
The community grant is one of 37 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.
The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in Jan. 2025. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
