Lexington starting on downtown performance venue

A long-awaited performance venue should debut in downtown Lexington next summer.

Town officials expect it will take nine months to complete a 900-seat outdoor amphitheater after its groundbreaking Sept. 1. The site is on Church Street across from Town Hall.

The amphitheater will host concerts and events to draw crowds to an area envisioned as a new hub for specialty merchants and restaurants.

Town officials envision the project as the centerpiece of efforts to lure shoppers to the area. It will adjoin Town Square Park and a new path being built around the Old Mill Pond as downtown attractions.

The amphitheater and path are expected to cost $6.4 million, Mayor Steve MacDougall said.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 4:36 PM.