Sun Ray Cinema warns of impending sale of their building to Atlanta developer...

[thelakelander]

^Local and National Register historic designations have different preservation criteria. This one has a local Jacksonville designation, so that criteria would apply to it. Whatever they do in NYC may not be exactly applicable to what's in Jax's LDC.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

Whoever started that petition really put the cart in front of the horse and wound up spreading a bunch of rumors. I'm sure the 1500+ emails that the petition website sent out to city officials and the current owner were REALLY well received and not at all annoying...

I am really rooting for Sunray but the petition was poorly thought out.

[thelakelander]

^I don't see how lease negotiating through social media rumors is a good thing for remaining. That's just my two cents.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

^ I completely agree. I think this was a misstep and an overreaction on their part to a perceived threat that may not have been there. Without confirmation that the lease was going to be terminated by the new owner there was no need to go on social media and cause a frenzy, rallying the community based on rumors to email the owner, buyer, and members of city leadership to the tune of over a thousand emails, may have inadvertently shot themselves in the foot.

I hope not, but I could easily see this social media frenzy being a huge detriment to themselves.

Anyway I'm going there on Friday to see a movie!

[Charles Hunter]

Wait a minute. Maybe a new tenant will be a real Game Changer ... like a Fudrucker's!!! Or, a new location for Hamburger Mary's!!!

After our moment of levity, we now return you to your discussion, already in progress.

[Charles Hunter]

On a more serious note, just saw on Facebook

[Steve]

I'm struggling with this and how the last half day has played out is so confusing. I don't believe the new owner has any serious thoughts about demo'ing the theatre. The thing is a historic building in its own right and is also a contributing structure in the Riverside Historic District. Perhaps the parking garage thing is a concept that he for the surface lot. The theatre lot itself is likely too small for a structure but maybe if you can assemble that lot with the ones at the corner of Park and Post?

Now, putting that aside: I do think Sun-Ray is a good asset for the neighborhood. I'd like it see it stay. Beyond that, I'm not sure the city government can be stepping in on what is a private lease between a private landlord and a private tenant. So, what's this rally for?

[thelakelander]

I'd like to Sun-Ray to stay as well. Its a great asset to the community and the urban core's last remaining cinema in operation. However, all the social media commotion, rumors, rallys, etc. actually do them more harm than good. All the rallies in the world at city hall won't make much of a positive impact at all. COJ has nothing to do with a private landloard tenant agreement. The tenant and landlord will need to work that out behind closed doors. A public spectical is more likely to have the landlord want to part ways with an unstable (I'm not calling anyone this, but acknowledging a landlord's view could be shaped that way via the nonsense flying on social media.) tenant.

[CityLife]

I'd like to Sun-Ray to stay as well. Its a great asset to the community and the urban core's last remaining cinema in operation. However, all the social media commotion, rumors, rallys, etc. actually do them more harm than good. All the rallies in the world at city hall won't make much of a positive impact at all. COJ has nothing to do with a private landloard tenant agreement. The tenant and landlord will need to work that out behind closed doors. A public spectical is more likely to have the landlord want to part ways with an unstable (I'm not calling anyone this, but acknowledging a landlord's view could be shaped that way via the nonsense flying on social media.) tenant.

1,000%. Public lobbying efforts have to be led by people who know the right strings to pull and right way to shape the narrative. Putting out misinformation and bombarding elected officials with emails based on misinformation is the perfect way to ruin a just cause. I like the attempt to save the Sun Ray, but don't respect the game. Like Logan Roy said

[Jax_Developer]

^Local and National Register historic designations have different preservation criteria. This one has a local Jacksonville designation, so that criteria would apply to it. Whatever they do in NYC may not be exactly applicable to what's in Jax's LDC.

Didn't realize this was only on a local landmark...  We've done worse *cough cough* Ford Plant.

[thelakelander]

It may be on the NR as well as a part of the Riverside-Avondale NR Historic District, but I'd need to check to verify. The Ford plant was falling into the river with no hope of reuse without the city paying the lion's share of the rehabilitation costs. That was a completely different situation.

[Florida Power And Light]

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.

Bummer Energy man!.... you gotta chgane your user name,something other than  ******* "deathstar" ********

I first walked in to Five Points Death Star in 1979. Hung out there today for just a bit, an increasingly rare visit, this time,on assignment. I personally knew Mike Shad.
In the early 1980's one could be employed at Five Points Fans And Stoves ansd sell Fans and make $30,000 + a year.
A cool Bungalow in Riverside/Avondale could be bought for $60,000.
Everything is different now, here's Edgy Avant Garde Diverse Eclectic Police Barracaded Five Points on to the next whatever...

[realestatejax]

It seems like Sun Ray has handled this very poorly.  A rally at City Hall?!  What purpose does that serve?  This is an issue between a Landlord and a Tenant.  City Hall has no say (nor should they) about an agreement between two private parties.  For all we know, Sun Ray could be a bad tenant who never pays their rent on time.  I'm not implying that is true but as long as accusations are being thrown out might as well add fuel to the fire!

[CityLife]

It seems like Sun Ray has handled this very poorly.  A rally at City Hall?!  What purpose does that serve?  This is an issue between a Landlord and a Tenant.  City Hall has no say (nor should they) about an agreement between two private parties.  For all we know, Sun Ray could be a bad tenant who never pays their rent on time.  I'm not implying that is true but as long as accusations are being thrown out might as well add fuel to the fire!

This^. If there was some form of the dark arts that a city could use to resolve this situation favorably for Sun-Ray, I feel pretty confident I would know it. I can't think of anything. I'm sure COJ could find a way to chip in some kind of cultural grant dollars or something similar, but that is a slippery slope. Then the next thing you know every beloved Jax business would be asking for the same type of deal.

It all comes down to money. This energy would be much better used fundraising for Sun Ray to help their lease re-negotiations. Do a GoFund Me, Create a fundraising event (ala Empire Records), and/or try and create a program where people pay upfront to attend a certain amount of movies yearly. IMO, that is the solution. SunRay should create a program that let's you see an unlimited amount of movies yearly for say $500, then use that upfront revenue to make a favorable offer to the existing or prospective landlord. If you want SunRay to stay so badly, put your money where your mouth is.

[Charles Hunter]

It all comes down to money. This energy would be much better used fundraising for Sun Ray to help their lease re-negotiations. Do a GoFund Me, Create a fundraising event (ala Empire Records), and/or try and create a program where people pay upfront to attend a certain amount of movies yearly. IMO, that is the solution. SunRay should create a program that let's you see an unlimited amount of movies yearly for say $500, then use that upfront revenue to make a favorable offer to the existing or prospective landlord. If you want SunRay to stay so badly, put your money where your mouth is.

SunRay did offer a year-long pass at the beginning of the year. The only difference from your idea is for them to sell them year-round with moving expiration dates, and the price.  I wonder how many the sold?