Residents look for alternatives to theater closing
By Stephanie Kist
HIGHLAND SQUARE — After learning plans might be in the works to close down the Highland Theater, Highland Square Neighborhood Association (HSNA) President Lisa Bostwick called an emergency meeting for Jan. 16.
About 20 curious and concerned residents gathered in Bostwick’s home, and she urged her neighbors to think big. She had spent the day researching ways to salvage a neighborhood theater.
She hopes to explore the possibility of purchasing the theater — or finding a benefactor to purchase the theater and hold it for a period of time — and apply for 501(c)(3) status to operate the theater as a community performing arts center. She said she thought purchasing the theater would cost about $800,000.
“There’s a lot that we can do, and to say that we’re going to let the theater go, it’s senseless,” she said. “It’s like cutting down a forest, for nothing.”
Earlier this month, the city issued Ted Bare Enterprises Inc. a “commercial alteration” permit for the Highland Theater. According to the paperwork, the $10,000 project includes removing the movie theater section of the building and constructing a new wall at the rear.
Theater owner Ted Bare did not
return calls seeking comment
by presstime.
However, it appears more discussion
will precede any demolition.
“Even before Mayor Plusquellic
came to office more than 20 years ago, the city was
trying to reach a consensus on how to redevelop Highland
Square,” said city of Akron Director of Communications
Mark Williamson in a prepared statement. “We’re
still doing that today. The theater has continued to
lose money, and as a private property owner, Mr. Bare
has the right to take out a demolition permit. I can
tell you his representative has agreed, in discussions
with the mayor, not to begin demolition until we talk
further about this matter.”
“We appreciate the fact
that Ted has stayed open as long as he has,” Bostwick
said. “It really has been a charity and a service
to the community.”
But closing the theater would
be the elimination of a large part of the neighborhood’s
history, residents fear.
“It’s a part of this
community, and it’s
a piece of our past,” said Rob Lucas, adding he
hates seeing older buildings in Akron being torn down.
“I feel like [the theater] is nowhere near being
razed, being demolished. It could definitely be used
for something else, and if we knock it down, we’re
not only losing that architecture, we’re losing
a piece of our culture and our character.”
Resident Joseph Blue Sky said
the 1930s-era theater is irreplaceable and its loss
would be devastating.
“This is part of what makes
this community interesting, is it’s a collection
of things over time,” he said.
“I know the theater’s
had its ups and downs, but I would hate to lose it,”
said resident Michael Graham.
He said he’s concerned
if this is part of a pattern of private property owners
selling to public entities.
Some residents believe the site
where the theater now is located will be used either
for a parking lot or for a new playground for the Portage
Path Community Learning
Center, which will be on the site of the Portage Path
School of Technology behind the theater. The school
is scheduled for renovation this year as part of Akron
Public School’s large-scale building project.
Bostwick said Highland Square
has all the parking it needs with the new development
going in, and she said she would be exploring different
possibilities for parking during evening hours.
Mark Smith, a member of the HSNA
and a Highland Square architect, said the closing of
the theater might be wrapped up in the large redevelopment
project under way on the north side of West Market Street.
“It’s not just the
theater,” he said. “It’s this whole
development. We’ve got to find out what’s
going on. That’s the whole problem here, because
we don’t know what they’re really planning.”
The group meets again tonight,
Jan. 18, and plans to attend the Akron City Council
meeting Jan. 22 to present its position and plea
to have the opportunity to buy
or find a buyer for the theater.
They also began, right there
in Bostwick’s living room, a letter writing campaign
aimed at saving the theater.
Plans might be in the works to
close down the Highland Theater and demolish the theater
portion of the building. Highland Square residents participated
in an emergency meeting Jan. 16 to explore alternatives.
Photo: Ken Crisafi
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