"Phase one of the capital campaign involves a $17-million renovation of La MaMa’s building at 74 E. 4th Street, its first permanent home, which Ellen Stewart acquired in 1967. Most of the current 10,500 square-foot structure dates to 1873 and some parts of the building are much older than that. The cost covers a restoration of the façade to its original appearance, a completely new first-floor lobby, a revamped club-style second floor theater, and a conversion of the third and fourth floors (which once housed the theater company’s offices as well as Stewart’s personal residence) into indoor and outdoor spaces for youth and community programming. A new elevator and other tweaks will make the building 100-percent compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act."
"...this particular block of East Fourth Street has found ways to defend itself against the dark arts of real estate investors."
