Hilliard Square Theater - What's Going On?

[todd heckeler]

I thought that it was coming down, considering the ceiling was falling in and it was beyond any type of restoration but it looks like it's now being saved, again, or delayed? How long does it have to sit in the state that it is now before we can see any progress on the repairs, it's been 30+ years already? It looks like Dobush purchased it 30+ years ago, he barely makes enough off the storefront rentals (think they are all gone now at this point) for the mortgage. He tried to sell it in 2009ish to either renovate it or demolish the building and redeveloping the property but no one wanted it I guess or was asking too much? Either way Bullock put the demo on hold to search for funding but after 6 years and no progress it's still there. I'd love to see a theater in Lakewood that's clean and well maintained by the owners but if it's never going to happen it's time to bring it down, yet I see that Skindell has pledged to work to save it now? Whoever is the next Mayor needs to figure out what to do with this building and have a plan for it, it's been long enough in my opinion.

[Michael Deneen]

I thought that it was coming down, considering the ceiling was falling in and it was beyond any type of restoration but it looks like it's now being saved, again, or delayed? How long does it have to sit in the state that it is now before we can see any progress on the repairs, it's been 30+ years already? It looks like Dobush purchased it 30+ years ago, he barely makes enough off the storefront rentals (think they are all gone now at this point) for the mortgage. He tried to sell it in 2009ish to either renovate it or demolish the building and redeveloping the property but no one wanted it I guess or was asking too much? Either way Bullock put the demo on hold to search for funding but after 6 years and no progress it's still there. I'd love to see a theater in Lakewood that's clean and well maintained by the owners but if it's never going to happen it's time to bring it down, yet I see that Skindell has pledged to work to save it now? Whomever is the next Mayor needs to figure out what to do with this building and have a plan for it, it's been long enough in my opinion.

You have an inside pipeline to the Mayor, why not ask him?

[todd heckeler]

I thought that it was coming down, considering the ceiling was falling in and it was beyond any type of restoration but it looks like it's now being saved, again, or delayed? How long does it have to sit in the state that it is now before we can see any progress on the repairs, it's been 30+ years already? It looks like Dobush purchased it 30+ years ago, he barely makes enough off the storefront rentals (think they are all gone now at this point) for the mortgage. He tried to sell it in 2009ish to either renovate it or demolish the building and redeveloping the property but no one wanted it I guess or was asking too much? Either way Bullock put the demo on hold to search for funding but after 6 years and no progress it's still there. I'd love to see a theater in Lakewood that's clean and well maintained by the owners but if it's never going to happen it's time to bring it down, yet I see that Skindell has pledged to work to save it now? Whomever is the next Mayor needs to figure out what to do with this building and have a plan for it, it's been long enough in my opinion.

You have an inside pipeline to the Mayor, why not ask him?

Actually, I don't know the Mayor at all but a couple conversations but next time you see Skindell can you ask him what his plan is?

It's been long enough, either renovate it or demo it. What's your opinion of it Mike? Demo or save?

[Michael Deneen]

Actually, I don't know the Mayor at all but a couple conversations but next time you see Skindell can you ask him what his plan is?

It's been long enough, either renovate it or demo it. What's your opinion of it Mike? Demo or save?

So you are pretending to not know the Mayor?
That's funny.

[todd heckeler]

Actually, I don't know the Mayor at all but a couple conversations but next time you see Skindell can you ask him what his plan is?

It's been long enough, either renovate it or demo it. What's your opinion of it Mike? Demo or save?

So you are pretending to not know the Mayor?
That's funny.

Focus Mike, focus.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Actually, I don't know the Mayor at all but a couple conversations but next time you see Skindell can you ask him what his plan is?

It's been long enough, either renovate it or demo it. What's your opinion of it Mike? Demo or save?

Todd

I know them both. Whatever that matters.

The city had promised to help tear it down if the owner gave it up. He moved people out, and was ready to go and the City said they no longer had the money.

There it sits, not sure what will happen if Skindell was there but, judging by his years in public office, at least we wouldn't have to guess.

.

[todd heckeler]

There it sits, not sure what will happen if Skindell was there but, judging by his years in public office, at least we wouldn't have to guess.

Not sure what this means exactly, are you saying that if Skindell takes office we can see it saved and restored? How much money are we talking here? I think I read last, this was maybe 4 years ago, that it would be many millions to repair, the violations alone are over a million. Who is going to take that on? What's your opinion of it, save or demo?

[Patrick Wadden]

You would think that in city of our size that AMC or Regal entertainment would be fighting over who could come in and operate a movie theater in that movie theater building. I mean the surely there is a demand for movies in our community of 50,000. Oh wait, there has been a seismic shift on how entertainment is delivered to masses. Netflix, Cable, Amazon Prime, I-phones, etc……So the reality is that isn't a movie theater anymore, it's just a aged out brick and mortar that the city is stuck with.

[Corey Rossen]

I say demo, expand Italian Creations - their food is great!

Corey

[todd heckeler]

You would think that in city of our size that AMC or Regal entertainment would be fighting over who could come in and operate a movie theater in that movie theater building. I mean the surely there is a demand for movies in our community of 50,000. Oh wait, there has been a seismic shift on how entertainment is delivered to masses. Netflix, Cable, Amazon Prime, I-phones, etc……So the reality is that isn't a movie theater anymore, it's just a aged out brick and mortar that the city is stuck with.

This is true but people still go, we do. The AMC in Westwood is amazing if you haven't been and that would be great to see here, but what's the chance of them pumping in 8M just to get the building in decent shape? Isn't it easier to just build where there is nothing for $600k or renovate what you already own?

[Corey Rossen]

You would think that in city of our size that AMC or Regal entertainment would be fighting over who could come in and operate a movie theater in that movie theater building. I mean the surely there is a demand for movies in our community of 50,000. Oh wait, there has been a seismic shift on how entertainment is delivered to masses. Netflix, Cable, Amazon Prime, I-phones, etc……So the reality is that isn't a movie theater anymore, it's just a aged out brick and mortar that the city is stuck with.

This is true but people still go, we do. The AMC in Westwood is amazing if you haven't been and that would be great to see here, but what's the chance of them pumping in 8M just to get the building in decent shape? Isn't it easier to just build where there is nothing for $600k or renovate what you already own?

We still go to movie and love AMC. The Hilliard Theater is beyond disgusting inside and out (roof). They would have to demo it if they were to build something on par with AMC. Since theaters like AMC and Crocker are the new norm, it would be difficult to build something "less" and try to have it be profitable.

If they do demo it in favor of a new AMC-type theater there is no room to around there for people to park and attend. Theater idea is probably not the best fit for that area just due to parking and crowds.

Corey

[todd heckeler]

You would think that in city of our size that AMC or Regal entertainment would be fighting over who could come in and operate a movie theater in that movie theater building. I mean the surely there is a demand for movies in our community of 50,000. Oh wait, there has been a seismic shift on how entertainment is delivered to masses. Netflix, Cable, Amazon Prime, I-phones, etc……So the reality is that isn't a movie theater anymore, it's just a aged out brick and mortar that the city is stuck with.

This is true but people still go, we do. The AMC in Westwood is amazing if you haven't been and that would be great to see here, but what's the chance of them pumping in 8M just to get the building in decent shape? Isn't it easier to just build where there is nothing for $600k or renovate what you already own?

We still go to movie and love AMC. The Hilliard Theater is beyond disgusting inside and out (roof). They would have to demo it if they were to build something on par with AMC. Since theaters like AMC and Crocker are the new norm, it would be difficult to build something "less" and try to have it be profitable.

If they do demo it in favor of a new AMC-type theater there is no room to around there for people to park and attend. Theater idea is probably not the best fit for that area just due to parking and crowds.

Corey

I think that might be the difficult part about restoring it, making it on par with theaters like AMC. No one wants to go to a sub par theater, especially when it costs $12-14 a ticket. You're right, if it's demoed I would doubt it would be a theater again, which is a shame but from what I've seen from the street it doesn't look like it can come back from the dead easily.

I invite the two candidates for Mayor to voice their opinions about the future of the Hilliard Square Theater, we know that Skindell wants to save it but what does that mean exactly? What is the plan and goal? We have yet to hear from Mayor Summers on it since Jan of this year saying it was a matter of funding.

[Dan Alaimo]

I don't know what Mike Skindell is thinking, but that sucker is dead and has been for a long time. The only issue is safe demolition.

Also, as much as it pains me to say, there is no room for cinema in Lakewood because of the lack of parking. Go to Gordon Square. It's the closest we'll have to a neighborhood movie house.

[Paul Schrimpf]

It looks like JOB said the city would help pay for DEMO, the owner got it ready for demo but the city ran out of money.

I'm all for preservation, but it's been too late to save for many years.

[Bridget Conant]

They "ran out of money?"

According to Jennifer Pae, the city can easily survive the loss of several million dollars per year from the closure of the hospital. But here, we "ran out of money."

So are we out of money and can we weather additional losses?