After being shut down for roughly 10 months, Thalia Mara Hall is one step closer to opening its doors.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office provided an update on Friday, instilling a sense of optimism that events could be returning to the popular Jackson concert hall sooner rather than later. Mike Chaney, the state fire marshal and insurance commissioner, reports that his office conducted a follow-up inspection of the venue on Tuesday and gave the building the green light to reopen.
“A Certificate of Occupancy will be issued to the city of Jackson. A hydrostatic test was conducted on Monday to determine the integrity of pipes and valves in the building,” a statement from Chaney reads. “The test was successful. The building elevators and escalators remain out of service pending repair and inspection.”
Thalia Mara Hall closed in August after the city’s indoor air quality assessment confirmed that microbial activity was present, likely due to a faulty heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and roof leaks. Human waste was also found in the balcony area. Among other troubling discoveries were an outdated fire curtain riddled with asbestos and a major pipe in need of repair.
The building’s closure caused area residents to miss out on Kevin Hart shows, performances from the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and other events.
In late January, outgoing Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba boasted of remediation efforts to bring the historic facility up to speed, with a stamp of approval by the State Fire Marshal’s Office being the final piece of the puzzle to begin the process of bringing concerts and shows back to Thalia Mara.
Chaney’s team, at the time, was not quite as gung-ho as Lumumba about the facility’s readiness to reopen. But now, Thalia Mara Hall has reached the reopening finish line. The only cosmetic detail remaining is the installation of a new fire curtain. According to Chaney, the city of Jackson has plans for the fire curtain to be installed in July.
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In the meantime, events can be held at the facility as long as a third-party fire watch is in place until the fire curtain is installed and passes inspection. Officials note that a fire watch involves having someone monitor the building during events for fire hazards and to alert occupants and emergency services if a fire breaks out.
“My office remains committed to working with Jackson officials to protect the health and safety of the public and important cultural structures like Thalia Mara Hall,” Chaney stated.
At this time, no specific opening date has been announced for the Jackson auditorium.
