DICKINSON — A once active community theater has become the center of a years long dispute involving city officials, a property owner, and a nonprofit group working to determine whether the building could be restored, or whether demolition was unavoidable.

A review of city emails, court filings, inspection reports, engineering documents, and interviews with city officials and restoration advocates shows how the Harbour Playhouse moved through shifting phases of evaluation, safety enforcement, and court supervision from 2022 through 2026.

At the center of the effort is Player 2 Plays Nonprofit, the legal owner of the property. Assisting with restoration discussions is the Dickinson Music Enrichment Center, led by executive director Charles Marcus.

Early discussions and questions about ownership

Internal city emails from 2022 show officials circulating information about the Harbour Playhouse and requesting an appraisal as part of early discussions about the property’s condition and future.

By 2023, Dickinson Economic Development communications described the building as long vacant and referenced uncertainty at the time about ownership or active representation. Some internal discussions noted possible legal pathways to address the property if ownership could not be identified.

In July 2024, the city attorney later confirmed the property owned by Player 2 Plays Nonprofit, a Texas nonprofit corporation in good standing with the Secretary of State. However, an unreleased deed of trust lien remained on the property, creating what officials described as a cloud on title that could complicate redevelopment.

Shift toward safety concerns

By late 2025, the focus shifted from ownership to structural safety.

According to the City of Dickinson, Fire Marshal Amber Phillips observed a missing exterior door while driving along State Highway 3 and initiated an inspection of the building. City officials later reported finding a partially collapsed roof, exposed wiring, damaged structural components, and significant water intrusion.

The city says officials also observed mold growth and widespread deterioration and determined the building posed a life-safety risk. Following the inspection, the city disconnected electrical service due to hazardous conditions.

The city has described the inspection as part of broader efforts to address substandard structures across Dickinson.

Red tag status and early restoration efforts

In early 2026, the Harbour Playhouse was placed under a red tag designation, restricting entry due to safety concerns.

City officials required that no entry or repairs occur without approval and scheduled court proceedings to review the condition of the property.

At the same time, Player 2 Plays Nonprofit, with assistance from the Dickinson Music Enrichment Center, began exploring whether the building could be stabilized and restored.

Charles Marcus told the court the group hoped to evaluate the feasibility of saving the structure. A phased plan was proposed, beginning with securing the building, followed by asbestos testing and structural evaluation before any roof repairs.

Marcus said fundraising efforts were being considered, but no funding was immediately in place at that stage.

Dispute over building access

As part of the court-ordered process to evaluate whether the Harbour Playhouse could be restored, Charles Marcus said he entered the building with engineering and environmental professionals to allow inspections to take place.

Marcus said the court allowed access for those inspections. However, court records reviewed by KGTX 7 do not specifically state that Marcus was authorized to enter the building without additional conditions. City Attorney Nghiem Doan said the city’s position was that access should have been coordinated with city staff.

After city officials became aware that Marcus had entered the red-tagged building, he was issued a citation for occupying a structure without a certificate of occupancy.

Doan told KGTX 7 that he offered to dismiss the citation if Marcus provided sworn affidavits from the engineer and asbestos inspector confirming they were present at the building during the April 8 inspection.

Marcus told us he attempted to provide those affidavits, along with the initial reports, during a court appearance. Marcus said he plans to re-submit copies directly to the city attorney to have it dismissed.

Court review of engineering and asbestos reports

At a March 2026 hearing, the court allowed for the required engineering and asbestos reports to be completed.

Marcus later submitted a preliminary structural assessment and an asbestos-related letter from an environmental firm. The court ruled the structural document included disclaimers stating it was based on a visual review only and was not suitable for permitting or construction decisions. The asbestos letter did not provide a definitive determination that asbestos was absent.

The court found the reports insufficient and ordered a more detailed evaluation, setting additional deadlines for compliance. That extension deadline was 30 days.

Marcus said he didn’t feel the court issued 30 day extension gave him enough time, citing potential company scheduling delays and the time it would take to complete more in depth testing.

At a later hearing in May 2026, city officials said no formal engineering report meeting the court’s requirements had been completed. The court subsequently ordered partial demolition of the building within 90 days.

Required steps were not completed

In a written statement, the City of Dickinson said it has not opposed rehabilitation of the Harbour Playhouse, provided that required engineering, permitting, and safety compliance steps are completed.

Officials said multiple opportunities were given through the court process to submit proper documentation, but those requirements were not met within the deadlines set by the court.

The city also said no permit applications were submitted for renovation work at any point during the process.

“The City does not—and never has—opposed rehabilitation of the Building,” officials said. “However, rehabilitation must be performed in full compliance with applicable requirements and within a reasonable timeframe.”

Blight and long-term strategy

In a phone interview with KGTX 7, Dickinson Mayor Travis Magliolo said the Harbour Playhouse is part of a larger effort to address long-standing blighted properties across the city.

He pointed to other deteriorating sites, including the former civic pool, as examples of properties that have remained in disrepair while ownership or funding questions delayed action.

He said while he wishes he could help, the city cannot invest significant public funds into privately owned structures without clear financial justification and private-sector participation.

“The city can’t pour millions of dollars into a privately owned structure if there isn’t a private investor assisting as well,” he said. “We’d have to prove a return on investment, and unfortunately it’s difficult to do because theaters just aren’t as popular as they used to be.”

Magliolo added that the building has been in its current condition for roughly nine years and said restoration would be supported if proper funding, engineering, and compliance steps were in place.

He also noted that many early internal emails reviewed by KGTX 7 predated his administration.

Regarding the city’s concerns about return on investment, Marcus said he understands Mayor Magliolo’s perspective regarding the financial challenges of investing public funds into a privately owned property. However, he said he believes the value of the Harbour Playhouse extends beyond a traditional financial calculation.

Marcus said the return on investment would also come through providing opportunities for young people, encouraging arts appreciation, and exposing students to theater and creative programs.

Restoration side: timing and investment concerns

Marcus confirmed that a roofing document cited by the city was a proposal, not a signed contract. Marcus also said interest in helping restore the building exists, but that potential investors have been hesitant to commit resources while a demolition order remains in place.

“No one is going to invest in a building that’s red tagged or under a 90 day demolition order,” Marcus told KGTX 7.

He said discussions with potential supporters have largely paused until the legal outcome is clearer.

What the records show

Based on documents and interviews reviewed, the Harbour Playhouse case moved through several distinct phases:

• early property evaluation and appraisal discussions
• confirmed nonprofit ownership with title complications
• transition to safety enforcement and utility disconnection
• red tag designation and court-supervised evaluation
• disputed engineering and asbestos submissions
• court findings that required documentation was not met
• issuance of a partial demolition order

At different stages, the city and restoration advocates offered differing interpretations of what was required, when it could be completed, and whether rehabilitation remained realistically achievable.

What happens next

The future of the Harbour Playhouse now depends on whether further legal action changes the status of the demolition order and whether additional engineering, funding, or compliance steps can be completed.

For restoration advocates, the concern is whether investment can return while demolition remains a possibility. For city officials, the focus remains on resolving what they describe as a long-standing safety hazard.

For now, the building remains at the center of two competing priorities: one focused on structural and historical preservation, and the other on public safety and blight remediation.

This article is a product of KGTX 7 Investigates, a multi-part series examining property management, municipal enforcement, and public safety within our community. The intent of this investigative report is to provide an objective, transparent look at a complex local dispute by presenting verified public records, court documentation, and on-the-record statements from all primary parties involved. KGTX 7 News does not endorse either party’s position; our goal is strictly to inform the public on the process, timelines, and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of the Harbour Playhouse property.