MAIN ART THEATRE TO BE DEMOLISHED
City commissioners unanimously approve development project for site
It’s curtains for the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak with city officials approving the property owner’s plans to demolish the vacant 1941 theater to build a five-story mixed use building.
More than a dozen supporters of the theater urged the City Commission on Monday to reject the development of a new building with retail, apartments and office space at 118 N. Main Street near 11 Mile Road.
Since last November fans of the theater have extolled its cultural importance to the city with showings of classic and independent films.
The Friends of the Main Art Theatre group on Facebook rallied more than 3,000 people to sign an online petition to preserve the movie house.
City commissioners unanimously approved the development project, which was recommended by the city Planning Commission.
“The demolition of the theater is not something we can stop,” said Mayor Michael Fournier, adding the city doesn’t have the legal standing to do so. “It would open us up to liability (litigation) and the city would lose.”
A.F. Jonna Management & Development owns the Main Arts Theatre and surrounding properties known as North Main Square at the northeast corner of 11 Mile Road and Main Street.
Jason Krzysiak, a founding member of the Friends of Main Art Theatre group, and some other supporters met with developer Jordan Jonna and his attorney Dennis Cowan in recent months.
He urged commissioners Monday to delay making a decision.
“Consider the future of this very important location,” Krzysiak said. “We are committed to finding a solution all of us can live with.”
The preservationists originally wanted to lease the theater and turn it into a self-sustaining nonprofit, with fundraising, donations, grants, and membership and ticket sales.
Landmark Theatres, the nation’s largest movie chain, leased the Main Art Theater until April 2021, when it closed its doors due to dwindling attendance.
The cost of renovating the theater and getting projection equipment was estimated by the owner and developer to be about $1 million. The owner said he couldn’t find another theater management group that was interested in running the theater.
“We liked Landmark,” said owner-developer Jordan Jonna. “Year after year attendance was declining.”
He considered trying to build the development above and around the old movie house, but it wasn’t doable, Jonna added.
While city commissioners said they were saddened by the loss of the movie theater, many of them are encouraged by Jonna’s mixedused building features.
The building will have 53 apartments, class A office space, and 9,300 square feet of retail space facing Main Street on the first floor.
Jonna agreed to commission requests to allow some apartment space for military veterans transitional housing and have the building be LEED certified.
LEED is green building certification done by a third party to a recognized standard for high-performance green buildings.
Royal Oak elected officials for years have pushed for environmental sustainability in everything from buildings to storm-water runoff systems.
The mixed-use building development will also incorporate solar panels on the roof, all LED lighting, two electric vehicle charging stations for tenants, and two more for public use. The marquee from the Main Art Theatre will be incorporated into the facade of the building.
Jonna agreed that he will hire an artist to design and execute a mural on the side of the building.
“I believe it’s a very good looking building that fits in well with the existing buildings,” he said.
City Commissioner Kyle DuBuc said the development is being done in a way that promotes the city’s goal of walkability in the downtown.
“I love the Main Art, too,” he said. “But loving it doesn’t allow us to dictate (and) take somebody’s property.”
Krzysiak and some other supporters of the Main Art are supposed to meet with Jonna and his attorney next week. One hope is that the supporters may work out a deal for screening space for independent films.
City Commissioner Melanie Macey said she was an early supporter of the Save the Main theater effort.
However, she added that it is “outside the bounds to take someone’s property.”