Las Vegas Huntridge Theaters Plans Unveiled
Thank you to all of you who turned out tonight at Rainbow's End to see the official unveiling of the plans for the adaptive re-use of the beloved Huntridge Theater.
I hope that you are as excited as we at the Save the Huntridge Steering Committee are.
For those of you who couldn't attend, here are the plans. Remember these plans call for keeping the not only the original building, marquee and signage but also the old Bank Building and Post Office as well. Everything would be done in the Streamline Moderne look of the original building.
Eli Mizrachi is not going to tear down the building and start over. He is hoping to engage retail and business owners to invest in the Huntridge Building. It would be perfect for small shops, an art gallery, professional offices. a wine bar that serves sandwiches, artisans cheeses and desserts. The second floor would have a balcony that the offices could open out to.
The plans also call for two pads on the property sited on Charleston Blvd for a Starbucks/Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf/Peet's Coffee/Java Detour type business and a fast-food restaurant. Both of these structures would be in the same Streamline Moderne look to complement the main building.
While many had hoped that it could remain a theater or performing arts complex, the reality is that the theater seats less than 1,000 people and would require that it be standing room only seven nights a week whether it was live theater, jazz, film or some combination of all of the above. All of which makes it next to impossible to be successful.
It is an incredibly bold plan that would enhance not only the corner of
Maryland Parkway and Charleston Blvd but the nearby neighborhoods as
well. With the right mix of retail and professional offices this could be the anchor and gateway for a whole new day in the neighborhood!
Let us know what you think. by posting your comments.
The next step is the Sept. 25th Planning Commission meeting. So stay tuned for more details on that!
LasVegasLynn
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Reader Comments (7)
1. First and foremost, I love the look of the work.
2. Looks like there is going to be waaaay too little parking for what they are planning on putting in there. I would anticipate at least one of the outlying buildings to disappear if not both. The parking is already a little short as-is for practical purposes, even if it meets code.
questions:
1. who is the architect?
2. was there mention of any green aspects to this property?
3. At what point is he going to start seeking and signing tennants?
4. Did he give a timeframe for start of construction?
What's to become of the Huntridge's flyspace? I see that it's part of the new plan, but its height and shape seems to make it an awkward fit for retail. Might make a neat community theater, with stadium seating.
And kudos to the owner for "seeing it our way". The drawings are brilliant - so exciting. If the reality is anywhere near the artistic renderings, what a beautiful place this will be. Hopefully someone with an idea for a small museum/gift shop will be interested in owning one of the shops. There should be memorabilia about the Huntridge in its heyday, plus magnets, etc., whatever, to sell for people to buy a little part of this historic landmark.
I sure wish it could be a theatre again, but I understand with the unique dynamics of our city, there is just too much competition from other venues with more money and space to present movies and live entertainment.
I'm very excited about this project, and will be excitedly watching its progress (and helping in any way I can!)
"It's Chinatown, Jake... it's Chinatown."
All in all, I think it will be successful.
Is there any possibility of keeping the large theater space intact with a small grocery perhaps? I do cringe at the idea the space may be subdivided with drop ceilings for multiple small stores. Yet I shake my head with understanding that the interior space may have to be sacrificed to save the exterior. Still, I do approve.