After all the lofty chatter a while back, is there any progress report to be viewed, or has the group tossed in the towel on the old Paramount theater building?
Are any members of this forum involved in the project?
http://www.facebook.com/ParamountProject
That's a good question TownTalk. I haven't heard anything about it in quite a while.
I shall ask on Facebook. That's where Phil spends most of his online time.
That would make a swell venue for the summer film series provided it can become an accomplished fact. Please keep us posted since I've received requests for fresh info at CinemaTreasures.
I just asked Phil about this on FB, and here is his answer -
QuoteDemolition of everything but the facade should begin this summer. Fundraising for the development of the remainder of the project continues. You can keep up to date by following the project's FB page here: http://www.facebook.com/ParamountProject
Thanks much Peggy. I'll post the link at CinemaTreasures.
any other town in this country would had saved a bldg such as the paramount but ytown has the idea let the bldg rot from the inside to outside then rally the troops for support to build a parking lot.
Who said it would be a parking lot?
It's not going to be a parking lot, iwasthere. Follow the link I posted above, and keep up. :)
I believe iwasthere is right. It will be a parking lot for water dept. customers; that's how the city is able to justify the funds they are spending to demolish the rear portion of the building. The fundraising is for raising the funds to beautify and add to the remaining building and lot.
:'( :'( :'( :'( Oh ye of little faith :'( :'( :'( :'(
Do you know as an absolute and undeniable fact your assertion that can be backed up with current documentation that would be acceptable as evidence in a court of law? Please note that current = 2012 and not before.
hmmmm... I'm going to have to go ask about this.
Peggy, I can understand where the skeptics are coming from as witnessed by the old State theatre, but before I take their word for it, I need absolute concrete official documentation to support their assertion, given who is behind the Paramount Project as opposed to who was behind the State project. I must have official City of Youngstown documents dated no earlier than 1/1/2012 that are signed and notarized.
I don't have notorized documents from the city. But look at the phases more closely. Phase I is, essentially, just the saved facade. There is nothing that says the rear can't have multiple functions as both a parking lot, and gathering space. As more money is raised, over time, its function as a parking lot diminishes, until we get the final product, as seen in phase III.
I'm not a skeptic. This is just the path I understood the project was going to take.
One bone of contention. If, parking is allowed, that would put a big crimp in preparing the area that would be used for seating etc., likewise it would hamper the work that would need to be done to the front. The wall that would face the stage would have to be reconstructed ... public restroom refitted a new projection booth, offices and storage space work. If parking were allowed where would the construction equipment be kept not to mention building materials. Finally would public parking be allowed at an active construction site?
I really wish this forum has a "like" feature like the others (vBulletin, Xenforo, IPB, MyBB, etc) do.
We need the ability to like a post! :o
Quote from: Towntalk on June 12, 2012, 10:30:42 AM
One bone of contention. If, parking is allowed, that would put a big crimp in preparing the area that would be used for seating etc., likewise it would hamper the work that would need to be done to the front. The wall that would face the stage would have to be reconstructed ... public restroom refitted a new projection booth, offices and storage space work. If parking were allowed where would the construction equipment be kept not to mention building materials. Finally would public parking be allowed at an active construction site?
Park during the day, and sit at night.
If the architects do the same thing to the back of the Paramount facade that my firm did to the back of Harding HS facade in Warren, they will build a wall that will be easily modified for openings in the future. (if they don't build them in from the start)
And finally, when construction is finally able to start on later phases of the project, the lot would be closed to the public.
If I'm not mistaken, the Paramount has two basements that are not connected ... one beneath the stage area and one in front, and the utilities are or were located in the front basement. No doubt the center area just has a concrete slab. If that is the case, once the building is down, wouldn't it be much easier to level the area and pour a new slab once they know where utility lines would go. Since the slab slopes down at an angle facing the stage could that be kept in place?
Quote from: Towntalk on June 12, 2012, 01:00:12 PM
If I'm not mistaken, the Paramount has two basements that are not connected ... one beneath the stage area and one in front, and the utilities are or were located in the front basement. No doubt the center area just has a concrete slab. If that is the case, once the building is down, wouldn't it be much easier to level the area and pour a new slab once they know where utility lines would go. Since the slab slopes down at an angle facing the stage could that be kept in place?
I can't say for sure, but probably not. There are a couple reasons that come to mind, and I'm too inexperienced to know the right one. But, one reason, is that the new surface is at the mercy of what's under the old sloped slab. The existing slab, and any possible sink-holes or flaws under it, becomes part of the "foundation" of the new surface.
TownTalk, it appears that we stand corrected.
This is the response I got from Phil -
Quote
Phil Kidd says - Yes, the portion behind the facade will initially serve as parking lot due to the stipulation of the Clean Ohio grant. However, the Paramount Project design (fundraising portion) calls for the use this space as an outdoor events space as well (Farmers Market, music & movies, outdoor theater, etc). Again, for anyone who is interested in learning more about the project, they can follow on Facebook or they can visit the project's website: http://paramountproject.org/index.html (http://paramountproject.org/index.html)
This was in the Vindicator today -
YOUNGSTOWN — The board of control signed professional contracts as it moves closer to demolishing the former Paramount Theatre, except its facade, in the city's downtown.
The board today approved a $19,500 contract with Strollo Architects to have the Youngstown firm develop a plan to take down the 94-year-old building, except the front exterior.
"Not saving the facade isn't up for discussion; it's a matter of how to do it," said Charles Shasho, deputy director of the city's public works department.
Also, the board — composed of the mayor, law director and finance director — agreed to hire Brownfield Restoration Group, a Canandaigua, N.Y., company, for $56,028 to supervise the environmental cleanup of the building and make sure the city is in compliance with Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund policies.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/jun/12/paramount-theatre-facade-be-reserved-demolition/ (http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/jun/12/paramount-theatre-facade-be-reserved-demolition/)
Thank you and Phil for the update re parking.
westsider, i was just thinking about rain water since from what pictures that are available show that it would be exposed to the weather. I'm not at all familiar with the degree of slope there is, but all indoor movie theaters had sloping floors in the main auditoriums, but since as was pointed out to me that you were correct, I would gather that the floor will be flat to accomadate parking. Sorry I doubted your correct observation old chap.
FOR THOSE WHO PERSIST ON READING THIS VERY OLD THREAD, THE PARAMOUNT THEATER HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED AND IS NOW A PARKING LOT, SO YOU ARE JUST WASTING YOUR TIME FOR NOTHING.
Towntalk, who are you replying to? Did someone delete a post? The next to last post was made by you, in 2012.
If you made your statement based on changing "views" numbers, don't bother. The number of views probably increases over time from Google-bots scouring the internet, not from actual people re-reading it. (though, that is what this site's search function is for; so that real people can search archives :) )
I'm in one of my nasty moods --- watching too many paranormal shows and not enough of good music --- before I go to bed tonight, I'm gonna have to watch an Andre Rieu concert so I can dream sweet dreams.
I like to read old threads, and will continue to do so. :D
Like my many posts on Youngtown Memories? ??? ???
You folks gotta understand that we old hens are, by our very nature old grouches that live to be as grouchy as we can be, short of tieing tin cans on the tails of puppy dogs and putting thumb tacks on our dining room chairs just before inviting our guests to be seated. My day isn't complete until I have offended at least ten people.