Soo Theatre Complex

The project restored and renovated the classic and historic Soo Theatre Complex to its original grandeur of the 1930s. This project is part of the downtown revitalization and will provide economic development and other economic benefits.

Highlights:

• The Soo Theatre Project received funding to renovate a historic theater, which had been converted into a cinema some time ago. The building was successfully returned to its original state, and now houses a thriving dance studio, plays, and musicians, attracting people not only from Sault Ste. Marie, but from the entire eastern Upper Peninsula region.
• The project provide a creative outlet for both children and adults and expose people to types of arts they’ve never had before in the area, transforming it into a creative haven. 
• The success of the theater has led to dramatic expansion: within two years, from 2005 to 2007, the number of students grew from 100 to 400. The theater employs nine college-educated teachers, and through its partnership with nearby Lake Superior State University (LSSU), a number of college students. 
• Residents are very connected to the theater, whose huge volunteer base made the initial restoration and current expansion possible. 
• Younger students can play a part in the theater’s management on a student-run board. 
• People want to stay in Sault Ste. Marie because of the theater, and it’s retained its dance teachers, residents, and even students from LSSU. In this way, the project has become a catalyst for the arts and for the economic development of the downtown area, attracting creative talent from all over the region. 
• The expansion of the Soo Theatre has enriched residents’ lives by adding a cultural dimension that did not exist before, and also by providing employment and offering people a reason to stay in “the Soo.” 
• The project provides an outlet for creativity, involving kids and transforming Sault Ste. Marie from a “hockey” and “county-western” town to a creative haven for all types of arts. 
• The renovated theater, which primarily is used as a dance studio, also hosts musicians, as well as a “Big Broadway” play during the summer. 
• Sault Ste. Marie reported in 2005:
  • There has been both local newspaper and radio coverage. The designation of the Soo Theatre as a Cool Cities Catalyst Project has spurred significant financial investment and increased volunteer participation with the Soo Theatre Project. 
  • Members of the Local Cool Cities advisory group (LCCAG) are involved with the project. However, the LCCAG is pursuing other projects to ensure that Sault Ste. Marie is a destination for cool.
  • The City of Sault Ste. Marie (SSM) and the DDA will begin construction of parking structure downtown to accommodate the growth of War Memorial Hospital. Downtown SSM will soon be the medical hub of the eastern Upper Peninsula. The DDA is also in the process of purchasing property and developing a farmer’s market at a key location within the Cool City Neighborhood. In addition, the DDA is pursuing the possibility of creating a pedestrian pathway along our Power canal. The proposed pathway will connect several neighborhoods to the downtown and also will connect LSSU to the downtown.
  • To date, the project has allowed for a new business to move into one of the Soo Theatre retail fronts. The project has developed one new business, which filled a niche downtown. As the project moves forward, the new dance and music studios will create more job opportunities for the downtown. Therefore, jobs will be created, which will benefit the downtown neighborhood.
  • The major investment, close to $300,000, has gone toward the design and implementation of our parking structure.
  • Several retail storefronts have redesigned their window layouts, totaling an estimated $150,000 in private investment.
  • The city removed its ban on outdoor cafés. The zoning change was put forth by our Hyatt Palma study, which also listed the Soo Theatre Project as a major factor to help with downtown revitalization. The city also changed the snowmobile curfew from 11:00pm to 1:00am to increase tourist access to our community. Signage and sandwich-board signs will be addressed this winter. The city is pursuing a Historic District to preserve our historic community.
  • “The Cool Cities designation created a renaissance type feeling among the community. We are embracing our arts and cultural community to help drive economic development in our downtown. The Soo Theatre is one of the key components for driving revitalization of our downtown. This project wouldn’t have been feasible without the Cool Cities Designation.” - Lee Brown, Director, Sault Ste. Marie DDA