Local : Irvine Approves Theater Funds

A dream nearly two decades old became a reality Tuesday night when the Irvine City Council unanimously approved funds for the $17.6-million Irvine Theatre and awarded a contract to begin construction.

In what had been called a “now-or-never” decision, the council allocated $1.8 million to meet its share of a $5.4-million gap between the lowest of nine construction bids and the $12.2 million that had been budgeted for the building. UC Irvine and the Irvine Theatre Operating Company, partners with the city in the project, already had pledged $1.8 million each to cover their share of the gap.

Ground is to be broken in January, with completion scheduled for fall 1990. The theater will occupy a 2.3-acre campus site provided by UCI and valued at $2.3 million. Its address will be 4242 Campus Road, next to the front entrance of the university.