SALT LAKE CITY – In one last effort, a man from Salt Lake City offered to buy the dilapidated historic “Utah Theater” before it became a residential skyscraper.
However, the theater at 144 S. Main Street already has a buyer.
Michael Valentine is not ready to give up the historic Utah Theater when it opened as “Pantages Theater” in 1918.
Despite needing extensive renovations, he offered to pay $ 500,000 for the structure, alongside an extensive proposal for the city.
“This building is very important, not just for Salt Lake and Utah, but for the entire country. We can’t really lose everything, ”said Valentine.
A filmmaker himself, Valentine created a non-profit company to bring cinema back to the theater.
A historic preservationist and a construction team are lined up, including architect Casey O’Brian McDonough, who is starting an electoral initiative to attract the city.
“We are going to take this to the voters to help the city realize that we need to save the theater,” said McDonough.
360 REPORT: As Utah grows, how much history do we save?
But, there is an obstacle. Salt Lake City has already agreed to sell it to a company called Hines and the LaSalle Group, which plans to demolish the theater to build a 31-story residential skyscraper.
Both companies did not respond to our request for comments on this story.
“They don’t think there is a way to save him, and we think there is,” said McDonough.
In 2010, the city purchased the property for $ 5.1 million with the intention of renovating and reopening the theater until the price rose to $ 60 million.
At the end of 2019, the city’s redevelopment agency (RDA) approved the sale to developers free of charge in exchange for affordable housing and green spaces.
In response to FOX 13, city spokesman Lindsey Nikola wrote: “The RDA is under contract with another entity to purchase the property and is conducting due diligence accordingly, so we will not answer any questions about our contract or current obligations. ”
“The deal has not yet been closed – the contract is still pending, it is still being negotiated,” said Valentine.
Valentine believes he has a window and hopes his offer will influence the RDA’s decision to rethink the future of the theater.
The RDA, made up of councilors, is expected to speak about the sale on Tuesday at 2 pm at a public meeting.
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