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The Firehouse Theatre will stay.
The Farmers Branch City Council unanimously approved an amended and restated facility use agreement for the theater to stay at its current location on 2535 Valley View Lane at its Sept. 17 meeting.
Negotiations between the city and theater caused rumors and anxiety on the parts of residents, which was relieved after the city rescinded a lease termination letter after its Sept. 6 executive session.
Before the vote, Councilmember Omar Roman, District 1, addressed the theater.
“Firehouse Theatre, thank you for collaborating with us and being patient throughout this process. It seems like we started it long, long ago,” he said. “I’m glad that we have arrived at an agreement that is amendable and satisfactory to both parties.”
Councilmember Richard Jackson, District 5, concurred.
“I would just like to say to The Firehouse Theatre, thank you for your cooperation, patience, persistence. The Firehouse Theatre is a very valuable asset to our city, and I know there’s been a lot of back-and-forth discussion, some confusion, but I don’t want it to go without it being said that this is a very important piece to the fabric of Farmers Branch, and we are glad to arrive at this result tonight," Jackson said.
During citizen comments at the beginning of the council meeting, Jason Davila, a member of The Firehouse Theatre Board of Directors, read a statement on behalf of The Firehouse Theatre’s Board of Directors.
“The Firehouse Theatre is thankful for the support over the past 12 years from various councils and the citizens of Farmers Branch. We appreciate, truly, the use of the historic Fire Station No. 1 to present imaginative, live performances and training through engaging artistic expression, and we look forward to continue to bringing live performances and education initiatives to audiences that come from all over North Texas and the United States," Davila said. "Thank you so much.”
The property where the theater is located was granted to the City of Farmers Branch in 1948, and developed into Fire Station No. 1.
After the station was determined to be deteriorated and unfit for city operations in 2011, the city council approved construction for a new Fire Station No. 1 on Webb Chapel Road.
The Firehouse Theatre has been performing at the historic fire station since 2012.
