City will raze structure located in Jaycee’s Park

Based on the recommendation of an independent engineer, the City of Murfreesboro will proceed with demolition of the structure previously utilized by Murfreesboro Little Theatre. The structure is located at 702 Ewing Blvd. in Murfreesboro. No specific date has been set for demolition.

The City does not believe upgrades to meet City Codes are a financially viable option for the building.

“While public safety is our top priority, we pledge our support to Murfreesboro Little Theatre and its long history of performing arts in the City,” said Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland. “Our Parks and Recreation Department has been working to assist the MLT Board in its decision-making process going forward and will do whatever we can to help make that transition as smooth as possible.”

“It is with great sadness that Murfreesboro Little Theatre says good-bye to the log cabin,” said Murfreesboro Little Theatre Board Chairman Wayman Price. “Having reviewed the inspection report for the long-term and unseen deterioration of the foundation issues, and recognizing the significant expense needed to restore and sustain the property, we agree that the structure is beyond our scope of restoration.”

Price added that “the safety and comfort of our patrons and players must come first. While we are saddened to see this piece of Murfreesboro history pass, MLT has a strong foundation as we enter our 58th year of continuous community theatre. As always, the on-going support of this community will be essential as we seek to purchase our own venue for Rutherford County’s oldest theatrical arts organization and the many other groups that utilized the log cabin during MLT’s stewardship.”

Built by the Youth Council of the Works Progress Administration, the facility on Ewing Blvd. first served a Scout Lodge for many years. Murfreesboro Little Theatre has performed there since the early 1960s, and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department’s Sunshine Players shared the stage from 1989 to 1995 as well.

In a structural engineering report, Robert Warren & Associates concluded, “that the cost of structural engineering and the cost of structural remediation would exceed cost/benefit analysis. . . .Log construction may be nostalgic but would be expected to burn readily and rapidly. This is a significant concern for the evaluation of staff and patrons. The structural conditions present a highly elevated risk. . . .In conclusion, on the basis of the cost associated with remediating a deficient structure . . . , we do not recommend a rigorous structural evaluation or plan of repair.”

The Aug. 4, 2019, structural engineering report was based on a review of the property Aug. 2. The City of Murfreesboro owns the property, which had been leased to the Murfreesboro Little Theatre since 2005. On July 24, 2019, Community Services Executive Director Angela Jackson notified Murfreesboro Little Theatre that the City’s fire marshal and building officials had identified “fire and life safety hazards” in the structure.

Under the lease, the Murfreesboro Little Theatre was responsible for maintaining the property in accordance with the City’s property maintenance and fire codes.

City crews razed an outdoor stage/set on the property based on the recommendation of the engineering report which stated, “We recommend demolition and removal of the outdoor stage/set and all flammable materials . . . piled around the facility. . . .Deferred maintenance leaves the property at unnecessary risk of catastrophe.”