The old Falls Theatre, owned by the city of Cuyahoga Falls, may get a second act as the home of a microbrewery.
City Council members Tuesday unanimously approved a $1.2 million redevelopment proposal for the closed movie house that would include a brewery as well as space for two storefront retail operations. Four now-vacant apartments on the second floor would also be spruced up.
Loew’s Corp. pulled the plug on the theater in May 1978 and donated it to the city. The theater is on the Front Street mall, which the city is considering reopening to vehicle traffic. It has been vacant for about 13 years.
Area husband and wife architects Alan and Lauren Burge have formed Coming Attractions LLC to turn the theater into the mixed-use development, Cuyahoga Falls Development Director Diane Sheridan said.
“I’d like to toast your proposal,” said council President Mary Ellen Pyke, who asked if anyone else remembered seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the theater.
Hop Tree Brewing Co., a startup company run by locals Cory Ross and Greg McClymont, will be responsible for funding and operating the brewery within the building, which will be completed with a restaurant and feature live entertainment on the original stage in the building.
Sheridan said that the Burges’ plan is contingent upon the project receiving state and federal historical tax credits.
The credits are designed to spur the rehabilitation of historical properties. Developers help to finance their projects by selling the federal and state tax credits to investors, who use them to trim their tax bills.
Sheridan said that $250,000 in state tax credits would be sought, which would pay for about 25 percent of the project. Federal tax credits will fund an additional 20 percent.
The application for the state tax credit is due March 31, and if received, renovation will begin in the fall, said Cuyahoga Falls Director of Planning Fred Guerra.
Sheridan said the process for receiving the state tax credit is very competitive and if the city is unsuccessful this spring, the Falls will reapply for the credit in September.
Rules governing the tax credits say cities can’t use them for projects, so Cuyahoga Falls wants to transfer ownership of the theater to the nonprofit Community Improvement Corp., affiliated with the city.
The Community Improvement Corp. would then transfer ownership of the building to the project developer, Coming Attractions LLC, after the tax credits are received.
She said the plan also is contingent on the city opening Front Street mall to vehicle traffic. The road has been closed since 1978.
The development of the State Road Shopping Plaza, the 1967 arrival of Chapel Hill Mall and the building of state Route 8 in 1972 changed traffic and shopping patterns.
The city responded by closing Front Street, creating an outdoor pedestrian mall that it hoped would be attractive to shoppers.
“Other communities tried to create an old downtown feel that we have so I think it’s wonderful that we’re going to maintain our historic integrity down there and create some new jobs,” said at-large councilwoman Carol Klinger.
Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com. Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.