Local Group Wants To Save Warwick
20-20 Foundation working to re-open theater in new Van Otterloo-owned building on Pleasant Street.
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The Marblehead 20-20 Foundation is hoping to re-open the Warwick Theater in the new retail and office building planned for the site of the old Warwick Theater on Pleasant Street.
“We are sponsoring a significant effort to re-open the Warwick Theater in the proposed new building,” Michael McCloskey, chairman of the Marblehead 20-20 Foundation wrote in an email. “We are revising our architectural plans to fit the new building and re-working our existing business models. However, no decisions or submissions have been made at this time."
The Planning Board is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8, for the first time on the proposed project. The Planning Board must approve the proposed site plan and grant a special permit for construction of the new building. The meeting will be held at Abbot Hall.
“By looking at the architectural drawings available to the public at the Building Inspector’s office, it appears that the façade of the theater and the marquee are going to be rehabilitated and integrated into the new design. For that we are very grateful. Marblehead 20-20 has no further details at this time," McCloskey wrote.
Warwick Place Realty Trust at 18 Sewall Street, which is owned by Marblehead businessman and philanthropist Eijk Van Otterloo, has asked the town Planning Board for permission to demolish the old theater and surrounding buildings and build a new retail and commercial office building in its place.
On Marblehead Patch, commenters have ranged from those who are in support of change downtown to those who hate to see the antiquated building go.
The proposal is to construct a new building at 117-129 Pleasant Street with a total of 38,439 square feet of floor area. The first floor would have space for several retail stores and possibly a theater. And there would be commercial offices on the second and third floors. To accommodate the shoppers, office workers and visitors and apparently theater-goers, there will be room for 89 vehicles in the rear of the building.
Paul Lynch, an attorney who represents Warwick Place Realty, said last week, “The new building will revitalize downtown.”
Van Otterloo acquired the building several years ago and has held on to it, he said. The architect, the Kao Design Group of Somerville, has designed a proposed new building that, he said, “will fit in with the downtown.”
Lynch will also have to ask the Zoning Board of Appeals to grant waivers for some of the building's dimensions. And the town's Design Review Board will review the project.
The new building will have a slightly smaller footprint than the existing buildings with 14,475 square feet in the new building, compared with a combined footprint for the existing strictures of 15,297 square feet.
The Warwick Theater opened in 1919 and was remodeled in 1949 to a design of architect Chester Browne. This family-owned neighborhood, second-run theater operated for more than 80 years before it closed its doors in November of 1999. Its owner, Thomas McNulty, said at the time he could not compete with large chains and multiplexes of theaters.
The Marblehead 20-20 Foundation, a community group, has worked for five years to preserve the theater, McCloskey said. The foundation, according to its web site, “began as a small group of residents concerned about the aesthetics of our beautiful town.” The group “has grown to include many volunteers, financial contributors and sub-committees working on several issues important to keeping our community special.”
The issues the group is working on include street-scape, economic and community development.
“We believe that to succeed in one area depends on being successful in the others, that all three must be nurtured simultaneously to preserve and enhance the many things that make Marblehead unique,” the site says.
John
8:17 am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I suggest that the town and owner put a Facade Preservation Easement on the Warwick facade. This is something the town and the owner should look into because it will permanently prevent demolition, neglect and insensitive alterations to the exterior facade of a certified historic structure. "Once donated, a preservation easement becomes part of the property's chain of title and permanently remains with the historic property binding both the present and future owners. federal law permits the donation of a historic preservation easement to be treated as a tax-deductible gift. Thus, the property owner, who conveys the historic preservation easement, qualifies for a tax-deductible charitable contribution under Internal Revenue Code Section 170(h) equivalent to the fair market value of the preservation easement, as determined by a qualified real estate appraiser."
source: http://www.preservationeasement.org/conservation/program_description.asp
mary p. ayer
9:20 am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Yes, I would love to see our "Warwick" in operation again. We all missed going there and every time I drive by I think of how sad it is gone. The "Capital Theater" in Arlington has done a great job of making the theater a fun place to go and, when I lived in Lexington, their was "something " nicer about going to the movies there. They have a small bar with a few goodies to buy and tables too. Worth taking a look at you "owners"!!! I think the town has a "big" interest in what happens to this relic of our past and the " youth" may be kept around town more if they have a interesting place to go. It isn't 'just about the investors"! This is OUR TOMN too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pat Ayer
Anne C. Mahoney
9:29 am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I would like my grandchildren to have the same experience I had as a child going down town to the local theater. I sold Mr. Eijk Van Otterloo his first house in town back in 1968 on Bennett Road and am sure he enjoyed going to the Warwick himself from time to time. Please work around your plans, Eijk, to keep a piece of Marblehead that may have attracted you to Marblehead in the first place.
Sincerely, Anne [Cutler] Mahoney.
P.S. The spirit of Marblehead 'needs' to be nurtured to grow.
Save The Warwick
8:37 pm on Thursday, January 27, 2011
John, thanks for pointing this out!
Pat, Ann, and everybody - let's all get together on this. If Marbleheaders can stand together work toward a common gaol, maybe we CAN find some way of bringing life to the Warwick again. Please visit our Facebook page and pass it along to friends. We can do this!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Warwick-Theatre/130254847042077
Bill
7:41 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
They are going to DEMOLISH 129 PLEASANT Street! That a historic house, and with the large yard, it is one of the last open spaces in downtown, and one that is seen in many historic photos and maps. Does the downtown really need such a large commercial building with so many vacant ones on Atlantic Ave, along with the new space going at the old Y site? I can see taking over the old bank, but go all the way to Anderson Street?
e tucker
7:58 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Well now we know where they plan on putting the 89 parking spaces! Hopefully they will "attempt" to save those nice old trees.
Let's hope they save the Warwick's facade at least, otherwise this project will cause another loss to Marblehead's history, just like the Y, the Rockmere...
Gean Bronson
11:07 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Yes, we need and want The Warwick to be restored and brought back to life in Marblehead.Let`s keep our town unique and preserve the historic charm the old theater once had.It would be wonderful to have dinner and go see a movie here in Marblehead.Rather than go OUT OF TOWN to eat and be entertained.It would be a boost to our local restaurant`s as well as encourage and stimulate the area.The Warwick doesn`t have to try and compete with the large mega theater`s.It could be an upscale independent art house movie theater featuring foreign, classic`s and student film maker`s.Children`s film`s could also be included into the program.Let`s face it, with the exception of the Marblehead Little Theater here is not much in the way of entertainment in Marblehead.Build it and they will come.
Joe Whipple
9:43 am on Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Warwick facade is an eyesore! If a movie theater will work as part of the Van Otterloo project, that's great, but to incorporate the existing facade into a building of different style and appearance would be ridiculous. If the project is approved, the streetscape will look much better without being marred by that incongruous jarring note. The wish to save the Warwick facade is an example of nostalgia and preservationism run amok. Actually, the building next door which is also part of the project is far better looking.
Gean Bronson
10:42 am on Tuesday, February 1, 2011
That's what make's Marblehead unique.Interesting old building's in different style's.Joe, do you really want our town to have the "cookie cutter" look, where all the building's look the same? How boring and down right ugly that would be.If that's what you like, than drive to the mall.
Peg & Ken Bassion
11:41 pm on Friday, January 28, 2011
Peg & Ken Bassion
We spend winters in New Zealand where very small (20 or so seats) movie theaters with plush seats & 2 screening rooms do very well. They often run 4 or 5 movies in a week with rotating schedules. Most of these films are art or independent cinemas & there is always a cafe connected with the theater. It is a lovely low key experience & adds much to the communities. The Van Otterloos have given so very generously to our town; I know they have Marblehead's best interest at heart. Maybe they would accept a viable proposal for establishing a small theater in the Warwick space. It would add so much life to that area of town. Peg & Ken Bassion
Gean Bronson
3:49 pm on Monday, January 31, 2011
Check out the Save The Warwick facebook page.It is picking up a lot of speed and interest.
Lucky Pierre
12:46 pm on Thursday, August 4, 2011
well the big money wrecking ball has already started to roll on " it used to be" Pleasant St ! That lovely house on the corner is nothing but a pile of kindling now and the huge back yard is all torn up. What is wrong with this town? Its going to look like Waltham soon...if its old tear it down, put up something new and bigger and more expensive and....BORING. The Warwick was a treasure for this small community just as the old YMCA was. You know the one that is now a parking lot? The new one is a travesty , I think it is the only Y that is visible from outer space! Someday someone will decide that Fort Sewall would be a great location for office space and a chic bistro, and if there are enough vowells in their last name the plan will sail on through.