Theater group sets final fund deadline

Scott Spielman Editor

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The Historic Wayne Theatre now has a final deadline.

The group hoping to restore the aging movie house has until Sept. 20, 2007 to come up with a financing plan, as spelled out in an agreement reached last week with the City of Wayne.

If not, they’ve agreed to turn over the property to the city.

“Needless to say we will be working our butts off trying to raise the funds in the next year,” said Don Nicholson, capital fundraising chairman for the theater board.

The board members gave the city that pledge in writing last week when they went in front of the Dangerous Hearing board. The city had cited the structure as a dangerous building because it’s been vacant for more than 20 years and officials said it posed a health and safety issue for city residents.

Peter McInerney, community development director for the City of Wayne, said he’s not yet sure how such a transfer would take place.

“The details of that are being worked out right now between our attorney and their attorney,” he said.

Nicholson said his group hopes that won’t be an issue. Volunteers are still chipping away at the issues that brought the theater to the attention of city inspectors earlier this year.

“Our plan is to start cleaning out the sub-basement within the month,” Nicholson wrote in the letter to the city. “We plan on having an electrical demolition permit pulled to remove all un-needed wiring in the building. Our restoration plan calls for completely rewiring the building, those permits will be applied for when ready.”

The group is also working on the larger issue: coming up with the $4.5 million estimated to return the theater to working condition and construct a new Michigan Avenue frontage that would house a restaurant and several rooms that would be used for artistic purposes.

To that end, Nicholson said the theater is now a Wayne County One Stop vendor, which makes them eligible for low-cost loans and county grants.

They’re also working with Zachary and Associates, a grant and financial assistance company, to identify other sources of revenue. They’re also putting together three dinner fundraisers and have a concert scheduled on Saturday to help bring in funds and generate awareness.

“We will continue to do fundraising and Community Awareness projects until the project is finished,” Nicholson said.

McInerney said the Dangerous Building board, in response, adjourned the hearing until next September.

Nicholson said a strong commitment was necessary because of the way the project has lingered during the past two decades. He only got involved again after the building was cited by the city and the project developed most of its momentum since then.

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