Nordeast's Hollywood Theater will likely be preserved...but not as a theater

The story of the Hollywood renovation is a long one. The theater functioned as a movie theater until it closed in 1987. Six years later, seeing value in the property, the City of Minneapolis purchased the building. Neighborhood residents formed a nonprofit organization to raise funds and restore the theater to its original appearance, but the venture collapsed due to a lack of funding. Minneapolis has made numerous attempts to redevelop the building, including the exploration of proposals to completely remove the building. Approaches to redevelop the building for theater and entertainment use have been unsuccessful.

In 2007, the city reevaluated the site’s development potential and changed its approach to pursue more general or interim arts-related reuses such as photography and art studios or architectural offices. Discussions began in early in 2008 among a local task force of neighbors, the Audubon Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis Community Economic Development, and advisors from Hillcrest Development. The process identified improvements to enhance ways of marketing the property. Miles Mercer, from Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development, believes that steps the city has taken in recent years make the property more desirable.

“Last fall," explains Mercer, "we acquired the lot just north of the Hollywood building. We cleared the lot and believe that the additional open space gives the Hollywood more potential.” In the past few years, the city has invested a great deal of money into the building: adding a new roof, removing asbestos, and abating lead paint. A January appraisal of the site identifies its value at $275,000.

Why the fuss over an old theater? The Hollywood was designated as a local historic landmark in 1990 because both the interior and exterior of the theater reflect exceptional design elements. Constructed in 1935 by the architectural firm of Liebenberg and Kaplan, the Hollywood is considered a noteworthy example of “Streamline Moderne” architecture. This late Art Deco style incorporates aerodynamic curves, simple and smooth angles, long horizontal lines, and nautical elements such as lights or windows in the shape of portholes. Besides architecture, the theater is recognized for its rich social history.

The city’s goals for the theater include renovation of the existing structure, while also preserving the character-defining features of the building and keeping open the possibility that it will be used as a theater in the future. There will be multiple criteria for evaluating proposals.

“We have received three applications that will be carefully reviewed by internal staff and the task force," says Mercer. "It’s fair to say that the Hollywood Theater is in need of significant capital improvements: new plumbing, electrical wiring and an HVAC system.” Guidelines require rehabilitators to preserve and protect the design elements that make the theater unique. “The preservation commission made a catalogue of all the features and gave guidance about what should be expected of those features.”

It’s possible that none of the applications will be approved, but the community is ready to see progress made with the site. It’s a neighborhood landmark, and a piece of history worthy of restoration.

Betsy Mowry (betsy.mowry@hotmail.com) is a mosaic artist and an arts education associate at COMPAS.

Betsy Mowry

Betsy Mowry (betsy.mowry@hotmail.com) is a mosaic artist and an arts education associate at COMPAS.