Two projects in downtown Houston — to create an annex building to the Lone Star Plaza that will be used for a commercial kitchen and restoration of the Melba Theatre — will soon begin.
Discussions came Thursday during a meeting of Downtown Houston Inc., the group that is spearheading the projects and late last year raised more than $500,000 for the efforts and successfully garnered additional grant funding.
Members met with a contractor, Rob Willhite, related to the installation of new rubberized roof at the building north of the Lone Star Plaza. Some exterior renovations to the building also are planned. The group has received USDA Rural Development funding to purchase equipment required for a commercial kitchen that will be used by the Houston Farmers Market, University Extension and others.
Additionally, a grant has been approved from the local Healthy Schools, Health Communities program that will pay a portion of the roof work and signage for the farmers market.
In other matters, members:
—Will soon begin removing some tile and a fuel tank from the Melba Theatre and adjoining properties. The work is required under the terms on an environmental assessment. Once complete, renovations will begin.
—Heard that the group will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Melba to tour the property