Elks Theatre Building in Middletown Borough, Pennsylvania
Background:
The Greater Middletown Economic
Development Corporation (GMEDC) purchased the Elks Building and Theatre at 1 S. Union Street in Middletown Borough on August 23, 2005. The GMEDC is a local 501(c)3
corporation focused on the economic revitalization of the Greater Middletown
Area. Please see enclosed description.
The Elks Building is one of the most historically significant
buildings within the borough and is critical to the success of Middletown’s Main Street Program which is administered by
GMEDC. The building is one of the largest structures in Middletown and has particular significance in that it houses
the Elks Theatre, one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the United States. In addition to the 469 seat theater, which occupies
approximately one half of the building, the structure contains two retail
stores on the ground floor and a large second floor containing the lodge of the
building’s current owner, Middletown Elks Lodge BPOE 1092.
The Elks lodge recently placed the building
on the market and attracted immediate interest from several developers who
intended to permanently close the historic theater and convert the theater
space to some less desirable use. The purpose of this project is to preserve
the historic theater through acquisition of the building, restoration and
renovation of the structure and ultimately the establishment of a non-profit
community based performing arts/cultural center dedicated to the exhibition of
films and presentation of live performances. In addition, the first floor
retail spaces will be retained and the entire second floor (currently the home
of the Elks Lodge) will be extensively renovated for occupancy, possibly by a
restaurant or catering business.
Greater Middletown Economic Development
Corporation (GMEDC), which administers the borough’s Main Street Program,
determined that the loss of the theater would do irreversible damage to the
borough and the Main Street Program and resolved to purchase the building in order
to ensure that the Elk’s Theatre would remain a theater in perpetuity. On June 8, 2005, GMEDC entered into a sales agreement for the
purchase of the building in the amount of $350,000. The Anchor Building funds being applied for will be made available to GMEDC to carry out
the purchase of the building and to begin the first phase of renovations.
The Elks Theatre
The Elks building was constructed in
1911, following a major fire that destroyed much of Middletown’s central business district. The theater, now known
as the Elks Theatre, opened on October 24, 1911 as the Realty Theatre. The Elks Lodge purchased the
entire building in 1930 and the following year the Realty Theatre was re-named
the Elks Theatre. Originally the theater (at times referred to as the
Middletown Opera House) contained a full stage which was used for vaudeville
and other live performances. The stage was removed during renovations to the
theater in 1940.
The Elks Theatre has operated continuously
as a movie theater since its opening in 1911. It is important in a historical
sense and as a community landmark that has served as an unofficial cultural
center and gathering place for nearly 100 years. The building is also important
to Middletown’s Main Street Program in that it is a major structure
situated directly in the center of the designated Main Street area. The loss of the theater would deprive the area
of one of its primary assets and diminish the Main Street Program’s chances for
success. GMEDC determined that if the building was purchased by a private
developer, the Elks Theatre would not survive as an operating theater. If
purchased by a private developer, the theater likely would be converted to some
other, less desirable, use or the entire building could be torn down in order
to be replaced by a convenience store, gas station, or surface parking lot.
These would all be permissible uses under the borough’s current zoning
ordinance but would destroy the historic flavor of the business district and
deprive the community of an irreplaceable asset.
Use and Renovation Study
The central purpose of this project is to transform the current Elk’s Theatre
into a non-profit performing arts/cultural center to be used for both film and
live performances. The theater will undergo historic restoration to both its
interior and exterior, including restoration of the main entrance and the
addition of an historically appropriate marquee. The entire building will also
undergo renovation, including the installation of a new roof and upgrades to
the electrical and other systems in order to bring the building up to current
codes and standards.
As a film venue, it is envisioned that the
theater would be used for current releases and second run films, independent
and foreign films, and film festivals. As a venue for live performances, the
theater would serve as the permanent home for local theater groups, concerts
and recitals. It would also be available for special events for the Middletown Area School District and Penn State, Harrisburg Campus. Such use will require the
addition of a stage so that live performances would again be possible for the
first time in 65 years.
Under the current plan, the ground floor
retail spaces facing Union Street would largely be preserved. The second floor above these stores (currently
occupied by the Elks Lodge) presents a substantial opportunity for economic
development. This is a fairly large area containing meeting rooms and a full
commercial kitchen. Following acquisition of the building, a study will be
undertaken to determine the best use for this space. This assessment will
consider what types of businesses would most contribute to the economic success
of the Main Street District and also provide an income stream to help meet the
operating expenses of the performing arts/cultural center. One possibility
under consideration is to lease this space for use as a restaurant. This would
compliment the operation of the performing arts/cultural center and would help
fulfill one of the goals contained in the Main Street Program’s visioning
statement, i.e. is to bring additional restaurants to the area so that Middletown may further develop its reputation as a restaurant
destination.
In order to serve as a restaurant or other
use, it will be necessary to perform certain renovations to the building,
including the following:
- Creation of an attractive entrance leading to a lobby area on the Union Street side of the building;
- Installation of an elevator in the lobby area to allow access to
the second floor;
- Total renovation of the second floor on the retail side of the
building;
The successful completion of the entire
project should result in the creation of approximately 50 jobs for the Middletown area. It is envisioned that the performing
arts/cultural center be in operation 7 days a week and will require staffing.
This contrasts with the current Elks Theatre which operates only 3 days a week
and has no full-time employees. Likewise, the Elks Lodge has no full-time
employees and, therefore, whatever business ultimately occupies that large
space will result in increased employment opportunities.
PRESS RELEASE
from June 13th, 2007 (Middletown Press And Journal) article by Max Einhorn
ARTICLE featured in Patriot News from Sunday, August
19th, 2007
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