The historic Avalon Theatre is being demolished this week to make room for a new theatre. Organizers had hoped to preserve portions of the building after a June storm took the roof and walls of the building, but the structural integrity of the building would not allow it. Above, a view from the alley behind the theatre shows what little remains of the front of the building. Below, a Marker Construction employee watches as a backhoe demolishes the front wall of the theatre. (Journal-Tribune photos by Mac Cordell)
The Avalon Theatre is coming down.
Demolition began this week on the historic Avalon Theatre in Marysville’s Uptown.
Sarah Barr, executive director of Marysville Uptown Theatre, the nonprofit organization that will own and operate the theater, said the decision to raze the building was made after a storm in June tore the roof and parts of a wall off the building at 121 S. Main St.
At the time, Dennis Schulze, president of Marysville Uptown Theatre Board of Directors, said the board hopes to preserve as much of the historic building as possible.
Barr said eventually, it became clear the damage was too substantial and the building was structurally unsound.
“When the wall collapsed, our board of directors made a decision that the deterioration of the building, it was time for it to come down and we would rebuild the Avalon Theatre,” Barr said.
Schulze said the board tried to save “as much as we could, but for safety sake, it was better to remove it.”
She said the board and donors have been kept informed through the process.
Schulze said the board spoke with local historical society officials who understand the need to tear the building down.
Barr said she hopes the community will, “support a new build for safety reasons.”
“Given the current situation, we just wanted to do what’s best to make sure the Avalon Theatre is safe and sustainable for future generations,” Barr said.
Schulze said he knows some people will be upset to see the historic building go, but “there was no way to save it.”
Despite the sudden and forced change of plans, officials say they remain both on schedule and on budget.
“We are on schedule,” Barr said. “This did not affect our timeline at all. We are on schedule. Our anticipated opening is still August of 2021.”
Marysville City Manager Terry Emery, who also sits on the theatre board, said the sidewalk will reopen “about Oct. 1.”
Barr said she is actually hopeful to start some, “virtual programming and some other programming ahead of this.”
Schulze said the full theater with a screen and projector should be open in August 2021, but a smaller, 50-seat viewing area with limited amenities could be open sooner.
Additionally, Barr said the project budget also remains unchanged. In fact, Schulze said that while it wasn’t what the board wanted, the storm forcing the building to be demolished, “probably saved us money.”
He said the board spoke with contractors, “and they said, ‘We can do it cheaper and safer without repairing that wall.’”
Barr said the committee has about $2.3 million pledged of the needed $2.8 million.
Schulze said he doesn’t know how much is actually in the bank, but the board has, “enough to continue paying the contractors.”
Barr said she believes that when people see the new building going up, the contributions will come in.
“I think they will need to see it being built,” Barr said. “Hopefully when they see it being built, that will bring more people on board to the mission we have.”
Barr said she believes seeing the progress will help convince some of the doubters.
“There has been a lot of people who have said ‘I will believe it when I see it,” or “They are never going to get that started,’” Barr said. “It’s happening. It is happening right now.”
The group is using pieces of the old building to raise money for the new facility. Barr said organizers are selling bricks from the historic building for $150.
She said that while the building will be new, it will be recognizable.
“Everything will be a new build, but we will be paying homage to the 1930s when the Avalon was built,” Barr said.
She said that even in the changes, the mission remains the same. She said the goal is to create a home for the arts in Marysville.
“Our mission hasn’t changed. Our passion for our community hasn’t changed,” Barr said. “We hope Union County will join us in supporting the arts for Union County.”
She added, “our board of directors is doing this to enhance our community,” Barr said adding the process is, “a transformation that will affect everyone for the good.”