City of Auburn to break ground on new downtown theater and park on Tuesday, May 12

The City of Auburn will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, May 12, for a new downtown theater and adjacent park project that city officials say is intended to revitalize the downtown core and strengthen Auburn’s arts and entertainment district.

The ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Auburn Avenue (map below), where construction is expected to begin soon on the Auburn Avenue Theater and new downtown park.

According to the city, the new Auburn Avenue Theater will be a 9,960 square foot venue with 300 seats designed to serve as “a cornerstone for Auburn’s downtown revitalization.”

The previous theater was structurally damaged at the end of 2021, condemned in January 2022 and demolished in spring 2024, according to the City of Auburn.

City officials said rebuilding the theater has been a strategic priority intended to restore downtown Auburn as “a vibrant center for arts, culture, and community life.” The project is expected to support performances, concerts, comedy, visual arts and community gatherings while also stimulating economic activity and visitation downtown.

The theater will feature upgraded backstage amenities including dressing rooms, storage areas, a green room and accessible seating design intended to improve visitor experience and sight lines. Original brick salvaged from the former Auburn Avenue Theater will also be incorporated into the new facility’s loading zone entrance, according to project materials.

Alongside the theater, Auburn plans to build a new 16,000 square foot downtown park featuring green space, seating areas, landscaping and a commissioned public art installation titled “Gathering Tree” by artist John Fleming. The sculpture, inspired by vine maple trees, will serve as a visual focal point connecting the theater, the Postmark Center for the Arts and downtown pedestrian areas.

The city said the park project was made possible through a King County Conservation Futures Grant that funded property acquisition, demolition and site preparation. At least 85% of the site will remain dedicated green space under a permanent easement.

The Auburn Avenue Theater project carries an estimated cost of $13.7 million and includes funding from state grants, 4Culture, King County, city funds and a $4 million development agreement with IRG, according to the city. The park project includes nearly $1 million in separate funding for design and construction.

Both the theater and park are expected to be completed in mid 2027, according to the project timeline released by the city.