A few weeks ago, along with many others, I testified before the Assembly to encourage them to save the 4th Avenue Theatre, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was evident that many Assembly members had already made up their minds to demolish Anchorage's most significant historic resource. Many hope they will correct the error they made and not reward multimillionaires (who have allowed this wonderful historic structure to deteriorate over the past six years) with tax breaks that will increase all of our property taxes to make up for the shortfall.
Two Assembly members, Jennifer Johnston and Patrick Flynn, both deserve our thanks for having the integrity and foresight to vote against destroying such a big part of our community's history.
My family began attending the 4th Avenue Theatre in 1955, and I led the restoration team that was selected by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership and the MOA to restore the landmark in early 2007, working on the project until June 2007, when funding from the Rasmuson Foundation didn't materialize. I've also led the restoration teams on the Oscar Anderson House -- our first home; the Pioneer Schoolhouse -- our first school; and Club 25 and more than 60 other historic preservation projects throughout Alaska and Washington state.
Our plan in 2007 was to vacate the alley and have backstage circulation and a green room to allow the theater to function as a live-action or cinema theater. If they go through with their plans, the Fangs, the current owners, would be well-advised to consider putting retail on the first level of their new tower, parking on the necessary levels above that, offices/condos/hotel above, connecting to the PAC through the existing bridge across Fifth Avenue and connecting to the theater. The theater would be in high demand as an additional venue for the PAC with such a direct connection.
The theater should be purchased from the current owners with private funds and set up as a nonprofit organization that will obtain additional funds for the restoration (to repair damage from neglect of the current owners) from many sources and the sale of historic tax credits as originally planned back in 2007. The current owners will retain the air rights over the theater, since there would be no intention to build over the theatre.
In 2000, I stated on "Restore America" with Bob Vila on HGTV, "People don't come visit places to see brand new skyscrapers and gigantic buildings; they come to see what the history of the place they're visiting was."
It's my hope that Anchorage will not let the Fangs take this big bite out of our city's historic fabric. These developers have no intention of saving any part of the theater. I offered them my own preservation experience with the theater and vast historical information, including historic photos and original blueprints, more than six years ago, and they've not shown any interest.
Alaskans are very close to losing the historic 4th Avenue Theatre. If Anchorageites think that their property taxes will go up only 30 cents per $100,000 of value as they would have in the 2006 bond vote for the 4th? Avenue Theatre restoration, then they're sadly mistaken.
Why are we once again investing public funds in a private enterprise that will benefit only the wealthy, when we should be investing those same millions of dollars in the restoration of the theater that will benefit us all? We need look no further than the sole-source boondoggle a block away that is the Legislative Information Office.
Cap Lathrop stated on the theater's opening night: "The theater is a landmark in the transition of Anchorage from a frontier community to a city of permanence. It is a landmark in the development of a city in which families live, work, play ... the showplace of Alaska."
This is Anchorage's 100th anniversary, and if we preserve this great historic theater, we'll be remembered well and future generations will benefit from this important part of our shared history.
Sam Combs is a historic preservation architect who lives and works in Anchorage.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.