FeedsHistoric theater slated for demolition
Barring the arrival of a last minute investor or a sudden influx of funds, the Historic Wayne Theater will be torn down in the spring.
At a hearing of the Dangerous Buildings Appeals board on Monday, the board confirmed the original decision of the dangerous building officer, according to Peter McInerney, community development director for the City of Wayne.
The Historic Theater board, which holds the title to the property, has 30 days to file an appeal in Circuit Court, he said. If not, the city will solicit bids to demolish the structure.
“Basically, right now it’s up to the community,” said Don Nicholson, capital fundraising chairman of the historic theater. “If they want this to happen, they’ll have to put out some money.”
The theater was cited under the Dangerous and Blighted Building Ordinance a year ago. The theater board requested a full year to put on a series of fundraisers to generate the money to bring the building up to code, but those efforts fell short.
At the end of their deadline, the board was offered another compromise by the city: to generate the funds to bring it to a ‘white box’ state, essentially to bring it up to a ready to sell condition. The group fell short in that endeavor, as well.
The city has to wait 30 days before bids can be solicited for the demolition of the structure, according to McInerney. Even if favorable bids are received and the contract awarded by the city council, the demolition probably wouldn’t take place before April, he said.
That gives the theater board a little more time and Nicholson said he still hopes an investor will come forward.
“We’re going to put the building up for sale,” he said. “One way or another, we’d like to give the building one last chance to be renovated and kept as a theater–either by us or by someone else.”
As part of the agreement to extend the process for another year, the board agreed to put the title to the land in escrow and offer it to the city as a donation. That agreement is still in place, according to McInerney, which confuses the issue.
The city does not have to accept the donation, though.
“It’s a decision for the city council,” McInerney said.
Nicholson’s plan for the property was to restore the old theater and develop a new multi-story front that would house a variety of uses, including restaurant and retail space as well as office space and rooms for a variety or arts groups.
“I still feel–and so does everyone on the board–that this would be a good thing for the community.”
He estimated that it would cost $50,000 to bring the building to a white box state, and several million for the entire development.
