The renovation of Springfield’s Mars Theatre is continuing to move along, Springfield City Council members learned last week.

The old roof of the theatre has been replaced and work will begin shortly on the front of the edifice. The primary water damage had been to the back of the building over the stage. The balcony and lobby, shielded from the elements, are in better shape, as is the stage itself.

“We have made a lot of progress,” said Springfield City Council member Butch Kieffer.

Under the agreement between the city and the Springfield Revitalization Corporation, between $22,000 and $24,000 has spent so far for work on the theater, which has been vacant for years .

“We are well within our budget to do additional things,” Kieffer said.

The next step will be to tear out the front of the building and install glass block. The sign for the theatre also will be placed in a metal frame.

The SRC, which has conducted a number of fundraisers, has about $15,000 to $16,000 to put into the renovations, Kieffer said.

“We can go a long way with these plans,” he said.

The first phase of renovation is expected to include refurbishing the lobby and improvements to the balcony.

Other council members were pleased to hear how much progress has been made.

“It sounds like you are getting a lot of bang for the buck,” City Council member Kenny Usher said.