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Baltimore, MD (2003)

Hippodrome Theater

Rehabilitation of three historic buildings

Investment

  • NMTC Amount: $9,583,604
  • Total Project Cost: $9,583,604

IMPACT

  • 490 FTE jobs
  • 1,095 construction jobs
  • Rehabilitation of a vacant or under-utilized historic structure.

Investor

Project Description

Background:
Baltimore’s historic Hippodrome Theatre was built in 1914, just before World War I, and designed by a leading theatre-architect of the time, Thomas Lamb. As one of the first theatres to show motion pictures, the Hippodrome played an important role in the annals of Baltimore’s entertainment history. Though once the center of social activity on the West Side of the city, the theatre had deteriorated over the past few decades, standing only as a prominent reminder of a formerly vibrant retail district.

The Project:

The $71 million rehabilitation of the theatre, now known as the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, restored three historic buildings to their former splendor. The distinctive exterior cornice and marquee of the original Hippodrome Theatre were recreated in addition to extensive interior refurbishment. The great room of the Western National Bank, built in 1887, became the grand north lobby. The Eutaw Savings Bank, built in 1888, was transformed into a unique multi-purpose facility appropriate for events, receptions, and small performances.

Project Financing:
The project qualified for both historic and new markets tax credit equity. NTCIC made an equity investment of approximately $9.6 million in combined tax credit equity. The NMTCs provided an additional 27% or $2 million in equity to the project.

Community Impact:
A study conducted by the Maryland Stadium Authority revealed that the total impact due to the construction of the theater consists of $78 million in expenditures, $33 million in personal income, about 1,095 construction jobs, and $2 million in state and local tax receipts. Those numbers include secondary impact or the so-called “ripple” effect. The 2,250-seat theatre is expected to draw 410,000 patrons in its first year of operations, The total impacts from the operation of the Hippodrome averaged over a 5-year period are projected to yield a gross total economic impact of $26 million in expenditures, about $18 million in personal income, 490 permanent jobs and $1.9 million in state and local tax receipts.

MAP

Address: 12 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Census Tract: 24510040100

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