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Time Theater for sale; preservation group takes tour
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ROB STROUD JG-TC Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Coles County Historic Preservation Advisory Council
members took a tour Monday afternoon
of the Time Theater, which is for sale.
Steve Thompson, president of the council, said after the tour
that he is pleased with the condition of the
theater building, located in downtown Mattoon. He said the
council and other local groups need to have a
market study conducted to assess whether the community would
support events at a redeveloped Time
Theater.
"We are trying to keep this theater in the community and make it
marketable," Thompson said. He added
that possible uses for the theater could include showing art or
classic movies, presenting live
performances, and hosting special events.
Tour participant Frank Butterfield, director of the Springfield
field office of the Landmarks Illinois
preservation group, said a redeveloped theater could serve as an
anchor for other development
downtown.
The Time Theater's current owner, the Apostolic Center, has been
using this building at 1416 Broadway
Ave. to host dinner theater performances, youth group activities
and other events since purchasing the
property in 2006.
Shine Doughty, pastor of the Apostolic Center, said the church
plans to move events that had been held at
the theater to the church's campus at 205 Country Club Road,
where it has acquired 10 acres of adjacent
land.
"(The Time Theater) has served us well," Doughty said.
Thompson said he and the preservation council salute the
Apostolic Center for keeping the theater building
in use and making facility improvements, such as installing a
new roof a few years ago.
Council members saw that the lobby retains the original art
deco-style decor, including a stepped-down
ceiling in a lounge, and retains the original terrazzo floor
from its reopening circa 1940 following a fire.
They also saw that the original art deco-style stage is under a
removable theater platform in the auditorium
and that the marquee lights still work.
The Kerasotes company closed the Time Theater in 1995 when it
opened a multi-screen venue at 2509
Hurst Drive, which is now is owned by AMC.
Thompson said Kerasotes placed a covenant on the Time Theater
property title that prevents new owners
from opening a movie theater there. He said the preservation
council is working with Landmarks Illinois to
find out if Kerasotes is willing to terminate the covenant or
determine if the city of Mattoon has the statutory
authority to "condemn" this outdated covenant.
City Administrator Kyle Gill, who attended the tour, said
funding from the city's downtown tax increment
financing (TIF) district is available for exterior improvements
to the Time Theater.
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