Myrtle Beach city taxpayers are willing to pay for $22.3 million CCU Theater

David Hucks

A multi-million dollar new Coastal Carolina University – CCU theater, funded by city taxpayers opens in 2026.

Through a partnership with Coastal Carolina University, three historic buildings in downtown Myrtle Beach will be renovated and a 300-seat theater will be built.

Recent news highlighted that , none of the CCU Theater construction costs are being paid by the university.

Entire CCU Theater Groundbreaking Press Conference

Through a bank loan, city taxpayers will foot the $22.3 million construction bill for the new theater.

Not one city resident, however, has raised any concerns about footing the $22.3 million expenditure. In fact, city residents are on the hook for the entire $165 million the city has spent downtown. This makes residents among the largest investors in the city. If city residents don’t mind footing the bill for the theater and downtown expenditures why should others?

Meredith Denari, the city’s Public Information Officer, says the university will operate the theater and handle associated operating costs once it opens.

Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune called the theater “human infrastructure” at the groundbreaking this past Monday.

Said Bethune, “This is an investment in our community, for our residents, for our businesses, and it will also help us to attract the right people to live and work in Myrtle Beach. Bringing this back to life is a passion of mine.

We don’t know how to manage a theater, and they do it quite well,” she said. “But we want this to be more than just for Coastal Carolina University, this is for the community.

Currently abandoned Helen Mates Dress Shops, J&J Drugs, and Broadway Theaters will be gutted and renovated and combined into one large new building. According to Horry County property records, the three buildings sit on land owned by the Myrtle Beach Downtown Redevelopment Corporation (DRC).

Mayor Brenda Bethune owns 817 and 819 Main Street through one of her LLCs.

As of last summer, the city owed $165 million in long-term debt, with some payments stretching until 2042 for the Arts and Innovation District.

As part of the theater’s overall costs, Denari said $4.9 million would be refunded in historical tax credits and abandoned building tax credits through state and federal funds.

The City Council passed an ordinance earlier this summer that allows Fox Simmons, the Myrtle Beach City Manager, to enter a sublease agreement with MB Theater Owner LLC to qualify for the tax credits.

Denari said the credits would be paid out over five years.

According to Denari, the lease allows CCU 150 minimum “use” days for plays and other performances, and 100 days for third parties to use the theater. The city will have 30 “use” days per year, based on the lease.

In Wilmington, North Carolina, Monteith Construction won the bid for the project and will build the complex.

We have a set budget under contract with the city of Myrtle Beach, and there have been no changes to it, no issues. We do have some provisions in there for unforeseen conditions, which is normal in a situation like this, so we feel very comfortable with the budget and should not have any issues moving forward,” said a spokesperson for Monteith

At the moment, Monteith uses city-owned space on 9th Avenue as its office. Denari said she wasn’t sure if they were paying rent or if it was included in the construction bid.

As the space was open and available, Edwards said they decided to use it instead of setting up a site trailer to accommodate the workers.

Edwards said they are currently negotiating with LS3P Associates, the architect of the project, to determine the rent. In their approved contract budget, money was set aside for an on-site trailer office.

In lieu of paying for the trailer, we are trying to work out a deal with the city to reimburse them for that.

Denari and he were unsure of how long the empty space would be used as an office for Monteith, as well as how much it would cost.

Whether it will take four months, six months, we have our local office down in Market Common, but we always try to have an office closer to the job, Edwards said.

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