Plans to construct a new movie theater and parking garage in downtown State College are still underway, with an official announcement on the project expected in October.

Originally, the borough was working to bring a 10-screen theater to the lot now occupied by a parking lot between Garner and Hiester streets. The borough was to construct a 500 to 600-space parking garage adjacent to theater.

But now, State College Borough Council member Tom Daubert said he believes new sites for both a theater and a parking garage have been determined.

He said the new sites would be near each another, and would likely be revealed to the public when plans are finalized.

"We're going to move pretty fast," Daubert said. "We hope to have an announcement by the end of October."

Teresa Sparacino, executive director of the Downtown State College Partnership, said plans are being revised due to long-term lease agreements. Planners also faced the difficulty of building a theater on the small lot without adversely affecting adjacent businesses during construction.

Daubert said ground could be broken for the parking garage as early as next summer, but construction of the proposed theater would probably begin at a later date.

He estimated the garage could open in about two years and the theater in about three.

"The garage is of course totally up to us, but the movie theater is up to the developer saying 'yes' because it won't use public money," Daubert said.

The construction of the parking garage would be financed by revenue generated from the borough's existing parking facilities.

Daubert said a new garage would help to alleviate the parking deficit downtown.

He estimated between 200 and 300 parking spaces have been lost in the last few years, partly due to the construction of the new municipal building.

Council member Cathy Dauler said she believes following through with the project will benefit downtown businesses.

"If it all does fall into place like we're hoping, I think a lot of people will be very pleased," Dauler said. "It can be a real pedestrian traffic generator. As communities are trying to revive downtown areas, the restoration of existing theaters, and the addition of new theaters have been proven to bring people into downtown areas."