Council Awards Contract for Liberty Hall

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has awarded the contract for the renovation of Liberty Hall in the amount of $1.9 million to RPR Construction. RPR was one of five companies that participated in the competitive sealed bid process and was the low bidder.

The City of Tyler purchased the Liberty in 2008 as part of a strategy outlined in the Tyler 21 Master Plan to establish an arts and cultural district in downtown to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA). The purpose was to lead an effort to raise the funds needed for renovation of the Liberty into a performing arts hall that officials hope will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

The project will be 100 percent privately funded by donations. In January 2009, the Liberty capital campaign was launched with a commitment of $500,000 from the Genecov Group followed by a $100,000 pledge by KSA/Wisenbaker, Fix, and Associates in July and a $250,000 donation by Brandon Steele of Ryno Corporation in September. An undesignated gift from the Fair Foundation for $25,000 is also being used to fund this project.

The Women’s Symphony League of Tyler pledged $10,000, and additional large pledges and donations have been made totaling $100,000. Also, the Give Me Liberty Seat Sale has raised multiple smaller donations that have been added to the campaign to fund the rebirth of the theatre into a performing arts hall. The seat sale provides the opportunity for citizens to sponsor a seat with a pledge of as little as $1,000. The project is expected to take 210 calendar days to complete once the notice to proceed is issued.