Two of downtown Lebanon’s most recognizable historic structures—Collier’s Corner and the Lido/Tyre building—are in the late stages of a multi-year facelift that local officials say will stabilize the block and position it for new tenants and street-level activity by the end of 2025.
Collier’s Corner (126 S. Lebanon St.) dates to 1883 and anchors the west side of Lebanon Street just off the courthouse square. Leasing materials list a “Q4-2025 full renovation” and show the building’s modernization paired with ground-floor retail opportunities.
Next door at 124 S. Lebanon St., the former Lido Theatre—housed within the historic Tyre Building—has been undergoing façade and interior work as part of a countywide revitalization push. The Lido opened as the Olympic Theatre by 1914, later adopting the Lido name in the 1930s; the Tyre Building itself was extensively remodeled in 1915 from an earlier (pre-1887) structure to accommodate a larger auditorium.
What the current projects include
Public records and program documents outline a package of storefront, façade, and interior upgrades on both buildings:
- Lido/Tyre building: READI project documents describe removal of a mid-1970s awning, rebuilding the storefront to a more period-appropriate design, replacing all windows, restoring the north façade, and rebuilding 2–3 upstairs apartments with new access doors. A project window of March–June 2025 is noted, with Collier’s Corner LLC listed as providing matching funds.
- Collier’s Corner: A January 2025 city memorandum shows the Engineering Department soliciting quotes for storefront glazing, cladding, first-floor exterior doors, and windows, part of the broader exterior modernization.
City social updates through last year highlighted the “final months of restoration” on the block, underscoring visible progress along South Lebanon Street.
How the work is funded
The renovations are supported by the Boone County 180 Makeover program and READI 1.0 dollars administered through the Indiana Economic Development Corp. In June 2024, the Boone County Economic Development Corp. approved nearly $622,000 in grants for five downtown Lebanon properties; among the largest awards were $150,000 each to the Lido Building and Collier’s Corner, with projects required to be completed by Dec. 31, 2025.
Separately, the Lido/Tyre project received a READI allocation tied to the storefront and apartment work (public funding listed at $149,000 toward a roughly $698,000 total).
The county’s placemaking effort also extends to public art: Boone EDC issued a call for artists in October 2024 for a $30,000 mural on the Lido’s north wall as part of the “180 in Color” initiative.
Why these buildings matter
Beyond their architecture, the properties have outsized historical value. The Lido/Tyre site—originally the Olympic Theatre—served as an early movie venue on the square and was expanded in stages in the 1910s to add an auditorium behind the original storefronts. The Lido name appears in records by the late 1930s; references show it remained open into the 1950s.
Meanwhile, Collier’s Corner has long served as a highly visible corner retail address; current leasing materials confirm the 1883 construction date and the active restoration timeline.
What’s next
With grant deadlines prompting wrap-up by the end of 2025, the block’s facelift is expected to deliver updated storefronts, improved upper-story housing, and new ground-floor activity. City posts and program documents signal continuing coordination among building owners, Lebanon’s engineering staff, and Boone County’s economic development team to close out remaining scopes on schedule.
By the numbers
- Year built: Collier’s Corner 1883; Lido/Tyre (remodeled 1915 from earlier structure; theater in operation by 1914).
- Public grants: Boone EDC $622,000 (June 2024), including $150,000 each to Lido and Collier’s; Lido READI public share $149,000.
- Project timing: Lido READI scope Mar–Jun 2025; Collier’s Corner renovation aimed for Q4-2025 completion; program deadline Dec. 31, 2025.