Author Topic: Sun Ray Cinema warns of impending sale of their building to Atlanta developer...  (Read 34516 times)

pierre

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POSTED ON THE Sun Ray Facebook page:

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WARNING:  BAD NEWS POST

A patron of Sun-Ray found out about the impending sale of the building we are currently in so we need to finally share the news with you all. The sale isn't complete but we've not received any offers to continue our lease once the building is purchased. We had one meeting with the potential buyers from Atlanta back in January and never heard from them again.

Despite our attempts in the past to purchase just the theater portion of the building which is possible through a process called condominiumizing they have turned us down. We've dreamed for years of renovating this theater into the gem that it could be for the neighborhood but it looks like that might never happen.

The patron put together an online campaign and if you'd like to see Sun- Ray continue in this spot there is a way to send a quick email over to the owner expressing those words.


https://www.facebook.com/sunraycinema

jax_hwy_engineer

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It's really hard to tell if the patron's petition/emailer website is an overreaction. Has the developer refused to sign a new lease, or is there any real indication that Sunray will be closed down?

I wouldn't put it past an out-of-town developer to do some stupid stuff and ruin the character of a cool spot in Jax, but the idea of carving a parking garage out of a movie theater doesn't make much sense to me...

deathstar

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Absolutely sick to my stomach over this news. I was born and raised in Five Points, my grandmother & uncle owned and operated the Five Points Deli, my mom worked there while pregnant with me and even Gunnel & Tom of Edge City watched me grow up. In my later years, I would go to many shows at the old Club 5/Marquee Theater, would always hear about Saturday Night Deduction and of course the infamous arrest of Marilyn Manson & Jack Off Jill’s lead singer, Jessicka. Sun-Ray Cinema moving into the building and providing Five Points with a destination other than another taco joint has been so great for the neighborhood, while respecting the buildings historical significance. Just another nail in the coffin into erasing Jacksonville’s history with another PARKING GARAGE. Disgusting.

jax_hwy_engineer

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Just another nail in the coffin into erasing Jacksonville’s history with another PARKING GARAGE. Disgusting.

Is there anything concrete that says that, though? I'm confused as to where the parking garage talk is coming from. Based on the FB comments, that almost seems like a rumor or an old rendering. Do you know anything more about this?

jax_hwy_engineer

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According to the Property Appraiser's website, the building at 1022 Park St (the theater building) has a historic designation. Wouldn't that preclude demolition and/or re-use as something other than it's current use, especially since the theater has been there since like 1927?

Josh

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Tim/Schanna has since been commenting that the garage "idea" was apparently just a rumor from a while back; which was immediately questionable to begin for multiple reasons.

It sounds like an Atlanta-based firm is purchasing the property, and Tim posted a comment saying the property was recently visited by individuals representing a virtual golf company.

Sun-Ray going away would probably the most devastatingly bad thing to ever happen in the urban core to me in my lifetime. We'll see what happens, but it sounds like whoever is buying the building has zero interest in keeping them as tenants. It's a shame they never purchased the theater portion from the Shads before it was too late.

thelakelander

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The theatre isn't in threat of being torn down for a parking garage. Sun Ray may close but the building is designated local landmark.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

pierre

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The theatre isn't in threat of being torn down for a parking garage. Sun Ray may close but the building is designated local landmark.

Yeah but Sun Ray closing would be terrible for this city

thelakelander

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Unfortunately, they don't own the building. I'm not sure what, if anything can be done realistically to keep them there, if the two parties can't come to an agreement for them to stay. I don't know the details of the disagreement but I'm sure it comes down to a difference in money.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

Charles Hunter

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I don't know how virtual golf businesses work, but would a movie-theater-shaped space be a good fit for that? Doesn't seem to be the sort of business that 'fits' in 5 Points.

I would hate to see the Sun-Ray close, I've been to several movies, and a few concerts and other events, there, and Tim and Shanna have always been gracious hosts. I also saw a few movies at the old Five Points Theater.

acme54321

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Tim/Schanna has since been commenting that the garage "idea" was apparently just a rumor from a while back; which was immediately questionable to begin for multiple reasons.

It sounds like an Atlanta-based firm is purchasing the property, and Tim posted a comment saying the property was recently visited by individuals representing a virtual golf company.

Sun-Ray going away would probably the most devastatingly bad thing to ever happen in the urban core to me in my lifetime. We'll see what happens, but it sounds like whoever is buying the building has zero interest in keeping them as tenants. It's a shame they never purchased the theater portion from the Shads before it was too late.

SunRay closing to be the most devastating thing to happen in the core in recent history?  Not so sure about that lol.

Charles Hunter

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From the Business Journal Daily Record (at 6:45 pm) - I just saw it on FB

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Amid rumors spread April 16 on social media about the possible sale and planned demolition of the Five Points Theatre in Riverside, building owner Jack Shad released a statement:

“Our family bought the 5 Points Theatre Building in 2004 and did a complete historic rehabilitation to return this beautiful building to its original appearance. After almost 20 years, it is time for us to sell the building to a new owner who can maintain that legacy. After a long search, we have found a buyer with experience managing other historic properties throughout the southeast,” Shad said in an email.

He declined to identify the buyer but said it will be honoring all of the existing leases, as required by law.

As asked in that FB thread - how much longer does Sun-Ray have on their lease?
« Last Edit: April 16, 2024, 09:39:49 PM by Charles Hunter »

jaxlongtimer

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My family knew the owner of the original 5 Points theater and we saw many movies there... 2001, A Space Odyssey, Mary Poppins, Sound of Music... so many more classics.  In the day, many movies had an intermission to hit the concession stand or restrooms. 

All theaters had single screens... no multiplexes.  The first multi-screen I recall was the Regency theater that was the area's largest theater in a round building.  It was so large, that they eventually built a wall down the middle making it into a two screen theater.  Just in time for the release of Jaws with lines around the block.

I am dating myself, LOL.

UPDATE:  Adding Times Union coverage link:  https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/04/16/sun-ray-cinema-brew-building-to-sell-not-become-parking-garage-historic-designation-jacksonville/73345508007/
« Last Edit: April 16, 2024, 11:10:13 PM by jaxlongtimer »

thelakelander

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The petition's creator, Adam Guillette, said residents worried the designation would not hold because of renovations done to the building decades earlier.

This is not how local designations work. We can put this rumor to bed. Now Sun-Ray may very well close though. That's another issue altogether.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2024, 12:10:35 AM by thelakelander »
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

Jax_Developer

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Historic Designation = Outside Safe, Inside can be gutted to anything*

*In some cases, only certain elements are "historic" and in those cases, only that element needs to be saved.

NYC Palace Theatre is an example of "elements" being historic & not the overall building. Hence why exterior change is allowed in that scenario.

(https://untappedcities.com/2022/01/10/historic-palace-theatre-begins-lift/)