MHP has completed the reconstruction of the historic façade of the former Flower Theatre in the Long Branch neighborhood of Silver Spring, MD.
The nonprofit affordable housing developer will hold a relighting ceremony to unveil and illuminate the Theatre’s iconic neon sign and marquee on Feb 3 at 6 PM. The event is free, and the first 100 attendees will receive a free limited-edition T-shirt.
Numerous community leaders and speakers will present the renovated façade features, which hearken back to the Theatre’s original condition when it opened in 1950. Speakers will provide perspectives on the historical and contemporary significance of this project and its location along the Purple Line corridor.
The project’s scope of work included replacement of the iconic Flower neon sign that adorns the top of the theater, relighting of the marquee, restoration of the ticket booth, and other associated repairs.
“We are excited to see these aesthetic enhancements come to fruition at Flower Theatre” said Chris Gillis, Director of Policy & Neighborhood Development for MHP. “We hope this project will bring attention to the Long Branch community’s rich cultural history and diverse business offerings, in addition to the theater building’s investment potential.”
Since the theater’s closing, the Long Branch community has sought to identify an expanded use for the space that will draw people to the neighborhood and serve as a community gathering space. MHP hopes that the rehab of the façade will spur further investment in the theater and make it more feasible for future commercial tenants to operate in the space.
The Flower Theatre restoration project was activated in 2021 when it was awarded a Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) grant of $75,000. The roughly $400,000 project was made possible thanks to the financial support of DHCD, Montgomery County Department of Housing & Community Affairs, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Cafritz Foundation, and MHP. Donohoe served as general contractor for the project.