Butler's Main Street, with relatively few empty storefronts, vintage lamp posts and colorful flower baskets, looks better than Main Streets in many other towns. But the Main Street scene and mood in Butler will improve when the landmark Penn Theater is renovated and operating.

A refurbished Penn Theater will not, by itself, revitalize downtown Butler. But an attractive and active theater can play a significant role in bringing more life into the city.

While recognizing both the limitations and the potential of a refurbished theater, it was welcome news early this month to learn that the Penn Theater was bought by the Redevelopment Authority of Butler, which is planning a $3 million renovation of the Art Deco theater.

In 2004, there was enthusiasm for a renovated Penn when the theater, which had been idle since 2001, was bought by a community trust headed by local music teacher Donald Rasely. Soon after the trust bought the building, preliminary work began on the main theater on the street level and on the small theater upstairs, as well as the building's exterior. But that work moved slowly. And despite the upstairs theater becoming operational, the rest of the work was severely limited by lack of funds.

Then, work essentially stopped in 2006 when Rasely was accused of assaulting a teenage boy who was taking music lessons from Rasely. A year later, Rasely pleaded guilty to indecent assault, corruption of minor and providing alcohol to minors.

That controversy seemed to drain whatever hope remained for the theater. And with the building's facade removed when a quick replacement seemed possible, the once proud landmark became something of an eyesore.

With the redevelopment authority's move, there is again hope that the theater can become a significant asset, possibly playing an important role in downtown Butler's revitalization efforts by bringing people into the city on a regular basis for events ranging from concerts and musical theater productions to orchestra performances, movies and band contests.

While programming for the theater will be handled by the Penn Theater Trust, the redevelopment authority will find the necessary funding and renovate the building.

Authority executive director Perry O'Malley plans to put together the necessary funding through a combination of grants, historic and other tax credits, municipal contributions as well as possible tax financing district funding from Butler's Centre City project.

Like the authority's renovation of Pullman Park, the theater trust will reaquire the theater after the redevelopment authority completes the renovation.

And it's encouraging to compare the theater project to the Pullman Park project. The ballpark project seemed to languish for a time, then once work began it was finished relatively quickly. And Butler has been enjoying the attractive new ballpark since last year.

Revitalization efforts often face the classic chicken-or-the-egg problem: Commercial development won't happen without people or customers, and people don't generally come to areas without commercial development or other attractions.

If, a few years from now, the refurbished theater is bringing more people into downtown Butler on a regular basis, that could provide the incentive for more business activity, bringing new vitality to Main Street.

So instead of remaining a sad eyesore, there is new hope that a renovated Penn Theater with its neon-lit marquee serving as a beacon of sorts, demonstrating that there is new life in downtown Butler.