Theater may face ‘The End’
MID-CITY The owner of a movie theater here that has served the community since the 1930s is planning to remodel the site and make it suitable for retail, a move that has drawn the attention of planning and landmarks commissioners who believe the change in use would represent a loss for the community.
The NuWilshire Theatre, located at 1316 Wilshire Blvd., specializes in foreign and independent films that cannot be seen at some of the more modern movie houses along the Third Street Promenade.
The NuWilshire has been praised by patrons for its Art-Deco design that reminds them of the early days of Hollywood. The quaint, two-screen movie house is also known for its friendly staff and the fact that it’s rarely crowded, saving moviegoers from having to stand in long lines.
That may be part of the problem. The movie house is not as popular as it once was, which perhaps led the owner — Soundview Investment Partners — to apply for the remodel in October 2006. The Theater is currently operated by Landmark Theatres.
Representatives from Soundview could not be reached, but the company’s architect confirmed the remodel, which would add 3,000 square feet of retail space along with subterranean parking. Anchor Blue and Lucky Dungarees are rumored to be the new tenants once the project is complete.
Since it is considered a remodel, the project does not have to go before the Planning Commission for review. This bothered Jay Johnson, a planning commissioner, who asked city staff to give a presentation on the project before the commission on July 18.
Johnson raised questions about the city’s definition of a remodel and the process that follows, wondering aloud if a change in use should require greater review.
“Since there’s no review, I thought it should be brought into the open so that the commission, and the public, has a chance to learn more about it,” Johnson said. “I felt it was important to have some discussion because it is such an icon that has contributed greatly to enjoyment of many Santa Monicans.”
Paul Foley, a senior planner at City Hall, said the definition of a remodel is based on how much of the structure is altered. Basically, if 50 percent or more of the existing structure’s exterior walls are removed, then it is considered a significant remodel and must go through a normal review process.
If it is not a significant remodel, the project need only go before the Architectural Review Board.
“We really don’t have a say in it, truthfully,” Foley said about the project, which is under administrative review. “Retail is an allowed use in that area, and since it is under administrative approval, we are only looking at the physical development of the property.”
“It’s different if it was going from a commercial use to say housing, but this is not that radical.”
The architect in charge of the remodel said the plan is to protect and incorporate the theater’s facade The theater is not a historic landmark, but is listed in the city’s historic resources inventory, according to Landmarks Commissioner Ruthann Lehrer, who said it would be a “shame” to lose a classic theater, but pointed out that many developers have kept historic elements when converting former movie houses into reta
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 5, 2007. Read the original PDF.