The road for a refurbished Boyd Theatre in center city just got a lot longer. After months of discussion between owner Joyce Heydt and partners J.G. Petrucci Co. of New Jersey and Moravian College, a damaging heavy rain in May sunk the most recent plan.

A release from Moravian last week explained the condition of the building is simply becoming too great a burden for the school to commit to repairing. Moravian was considering renovating and using the building for its original purpose – live theater – but costs have swelled beyond reach.

“We estimated the acquisition and restoration of the Boyd Theatre would range between $22 million to $30 million depending on the extent of deferred maintenance and water damage,” said President Bryon L. Grigsby.

“Moravian College was willing to contribute to this project, but because of already committed projects such as the new health science building and the rehabilitation of the Bethlehem Racquetball Club, Moravian College is not able to fund it alone without securing a lead donor in the $12 million to $15 million range as well as additional funding from private donors and government entities. In addition, Moravian College would also have had to fund the ongoing expenses of operating a theater after the restoration,” Grigsby said.

City Director of Community and Economic Development Alicia Karner said in an interview, “It’s unfortunate the Moravian deal fell apart. The city was excited, but it was a heavy price tag for [Moravian].”

Karner said a lot of money has been spent on downtown improvements but that section of Broad Street is lagging from having a large, code-noncompliant mixed-use property sitting idle.

Weather damage first closed the historic 600-seat theater in 2011, and it has sat unused ever since, a great empty reminder of decades of local entertainment and family excursions.

Lehigh Valley Chamber’s Lynn Collins Cunningham, senior vice president for Bethlehem’s downtown, said the Boyd is a difficult emotional issue for many residents.

“There is a lot of history that they don’t want to see get lost. And I understand why. I spent many a childhood Saturday afternoon at the Boyd; sitting in the balcony, throwing green Juju Fruits over the edge because we didn’t like them, or getting popcorn and then a soda out of the antiquated soda machine. My first date was at the Boyd and I had many other dates after that in that movie theater,” Collins Cunningham recalled.

This writer remembers watching “E.T.” with his mother and then in high school taking a date to see “Men in Black.”

But the building – really two buildings; front and rear –contains additional businesses, second-floor office space and a large basement business space as well. But the offices have been unused for many years and businesses Hello Burrito and Lulu Lemon have suffered severe damage and been forced to close. The hard reality is that the building may have to go, said Collins Cunningham, and it may be best to replace it with new mixed-use buildings with first-floor businesses catering to upstairs residents.

As it is, said Collins Cunningham, “It is hurting the downtown every day that it sits dark. We need something to bring some vibrancy back to that area of Broad Street.”

Karner is not without hope, however, concluding, “We just want to see a willing property owner maintain the building and put it into productive use. That’s what we’re hoping will change.”