After more than 15 years of discussion, members of the Paramount Theatre’s Expansion Committee are beginning the first steps to expand the Austin landmark.

If all goes according to plan, the Paramount Theatre will finish a brand-new expansion by 2013. Committee members hope to expand the Paramount 20 feet east of its location and 40 feet north, taking advantage of the property’s backyard.

“It’s really exciting,” said Scott Anderson, Paramount manager. “It’s a big, big deal and it’ll be a huge expansion.”

When Anderson and his wife Janet, Austin’s City Council’s Member-At-Large, joined with the Austin Area Commission for the Arts to take over the Paramount in 1990, they knew from the beginning they wanted to expand the Paramount, to restore it to its former glory and to provide Austin with a large-scale artistic center.

“There’s always been talk (of expansion) from the beginning, because of the fact that this was built mainly for movies,” Scott said.

Getting to this point hasn’t been easy, as the Andersons  and the AACA have slowly restored the theater, putting in seating and heating and have tried to make sure the building was up to code. While most of the essential renovations have been completed, the Paramount isn’t up to snuff when it comes to the American Disabilities Act: Paramount’s bathrooms are in the basement, not on ground level which would make them handicap accessible.

After years of discussing whether to expand east or west, committee members decided expanding west and purchasing the current Parks and Recreation building would cost far more than what they were willing to spend, ultimately deciding to look at the easements on its property east. The Paramount’s property extends about 20 feet east of its location, but only 8 and 1/2 feet are currently usable due to easements in place for sewer pipes. In order to begin construction, the sewer pipes would have to be moved.

That could happen this summer, as the City of Austin’s flood mitigation plan calls for two of those pipes to be removed during this year’s construction season. When Paramount officials presented before the city council last week, council members were in favor of the city removing the sewer pipes, provided the Paramount pay for the removal of the pipes not involved in the flood mitigation plan. City Council members will vote on the proposal next Tuesday. A bid estimate will take about six weeks to put together, according to City Engineer Jon Erichson.

Before construction starts, Paramount committee members will start looking at architectural plans and begin a capital campaign within several months. Although the Paramount has money set aside for the expansion, members want to make sure they have enough for a finalized expansion plan.

“We’ll certainly be needing to get more money,” Janet, also the chairperson of the expansion committee, said. “Once we know all the things that are definite, for example, then we’ll start putting price tags on things.”

Committee members may not have a finalized plan, but there are several things they do want to include in an upcoming expansion. While handicap accessible bathrooms will be a priority, an expanded stage, dressing room and green room area is essential. There are currently two dressing rooms below the stage, each about 4 feet by 7 feet, according to Scott.

“You can imagine what it’s like to have 30 to 35 people performing like the Northwestern Singers,” he said.

On top of stage improvements, more seating, a bigger lobby area, extra office space and even a gallery space could be in the works. Over the past couple years, Paramount officials have been in talks with the Austin Area Arts Center Board of Directors about moving some of the art from its current location at Oak Park Mall to the Paramount to gather the town’s artistic flair in one spot, where AAAC art would get more exposure.

Nothing is set in stone, however.

“At this point, we’re just kind of at the dream stage,” Scott said. “Let’s shoot for the moon, and we can pare it down after that.”

Whatever changes are made, it will have to be done in cooperation with the Minnesota Historical Society. Since the Paramount is on the National Register of Historic Places, any expansion will have to be done so people won’t confuse which aspects of the building are original, while hopefully keeping with the theatre’s architecture.

“It’s a wonderful facility now, but it’ll be much better,” Scott said.