The much-needed repairs to the Triangle Cultural Center will begin pending the approval from historical preservation leaders.
The project was slated to begin last month, but historical preservation leaders requested more information pertaining to the repair of the south wall at the Triangle Cultural Center.
“No more funds will be required,” said Mayor David Starling. “It is just a matter of them giving the approval to go ahead and start.”
Starling also recommended a work session to ensure the project is thoroughly planned.
One of the final actions from the previous city administration was moving forward with the repairs to the south wall of the Triangle Cultural Center.
The former Board of Mayor and Aldermen accepted a $226,058 quote from Tri-C Construction, based in Carrollton, to repair the south wall of the historic center. The subject of repairing the collapsing wall of the Triangle was tossed around the table of the previous city leaders for close to two years.
The cost of the much-needed repairs will be covered by a $60,000 donation from the Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau and $49,000 from the city’s general fund. The remaining cost of $177,058 will be utilized from funds from the American Rescue Plan.
In 2021, the Mississippi Heritage Trust placed the historic building on Ten Most Endangered Historic Sites in Mississippi after receiving more than 100 nominations from concerned citizens throughout the community. Local artist Olivia Anderson, who is also an artist in residence at the Triangle, spearheaded the campaign, and its overwhelming response from the community provided potential for the historic landmark to secure grant funding in its restoration.
The Triangle Cultural Center, better known to many generations of Yazooans as Main Street School, completed its 73rd and final session in May of 1977. The beautiful Georgian-style building, constructed in 1904, is still one of six left in the United States. In 1977, through private and public efforts, the building was retrofitted to become what is known today as the Triangle Cultural Center. The center accommodates a wide variety of events and is home to the Yazoo City School of Dance, the Dennis Heckler Fine Art Studio and Gallery, the Sam B. Olden Historical Museum, the Anderson Art Studio and Gifts, the “Duke” Carter Antique Tool Exhibit and the Mississippi Delta Barn Quilt Trail.
