HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 09/22/1994 •
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LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING
TOUR OF OLD TOWER THEATER
1645 SOUTH ALAMEDA
SEPTEMBER 22. 1994
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. James Catron
Mr. Joe Dove
Mr. Adam Klager
Ms. Melissa Nucete
Mr. Charles Speed
Ms. Bunny Tinker
Mr. John Wright
MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Edwin Goodman, Chairman (Excused)
Ms. Cynthia Hill-McKinney (Excused)
Ms. Pam Lakhani (Excused)
Mr. Leslie Mabrey (Excused)
Mr. Govind Nadkarni (Excused)
Ms. Alclair Pleasant (Excused)
Mr. Joe Williams, Advisory
STAFF PRESENT: Mr. Michael Gunning, Senior Planner
Ms. Faryce Goode-Macon, City Planner
Ms. Linda Williams, Recording Secretary
The Landmark Commission met at 4:45 p.m. at the old Tower Theater, located at
1645 South Alameda Street, to tour the facility. The theater will be an example of
adaptive reuse of a historic structure utilized as the new YMCA Teen Center. Mr.
Wayne Tatman, Executive Director and CEO, and Mr. Ron Reed, Project Director,
conducted the tour.
INTERIOR OF THE THEATER:
Commission members walked through the structure as Mr. Tatman
explained which stages of the renovation project were complete. The
entire building has been gutted and stripped to the cement floors. The
seats in the lower level and balcony were removed. The snack bar area
has also been gutted and emptied. The old art deco style curbed
woodwork going up the stairway will be used, both inside as well as
SCANNED
' Landmark CommissillfMeeting
September 22, 1994
Page 2 •
outside. The lobby area will be used as a large meeting room that will
house a computer•literacy and tutorial program for teens. Various teen
groups will be able to utilize the room for their meetings.
Under the stage area is a basement with a 12 foot ceiling. The basement
will become the weight lifting and fitness center. Hess Fitness Equipment
has agreed to donate all the fitness equipment. Also in front of the stage
area, a small dance floor will be installed with a plexiglass floor with
studded lights underneath. The floor of the first floor will be leveled.
Mr. Tatman commented that teens from the Teen Advisory Board will redo
the art deco mural on the walls. They want to restore the artwork to its
original state -• using the same colors.
The mezzanine level and balcony area will be completely renovated. The
balcony will be leveled and half of it will be used as a coffee shop, snack
bar, and delicatessen eating place. An outside entrance will be installed
coming up the stairway from the fire escape. The back of the building will
become the main entrance and the Alameda Street entrance will be used
for special large functions and the Tenth Street entrance will used for
normal drop•in activities.
A large game room will also be located on the balcony level where teens
will be able to play ping gong, video games, and watch TV on a large
screen television. The balcony will be screened off from the lower level
with plexiglass so that teens will be able to see activities going on at the
first floor level. Both rooms will be able to function, not interfering or
interrupting activities occurring upstairs or downstairs. The projection and
coat rooms will become offices and study halls.
Mr. Tatman stated the TRIP center will also be housed at the teen center.
When teens are picked up by police officers for truancy, they will be
brought to the center and kept there until their parents pick them up. The
TRIP center is in its second year of operation and has been very
successful.
Landmark CommissiliMeeting t
September 22, 1994
Page 3
EXTERIOR OF THE THEATER:
Mr. Tatman stated the building located next door to the theater will
become a child care center. The entrance to the center will be off Tenth
Street. The child care center will accommodate seventy•six (76) children.
Mr. Tatman stated that at one time, they were thinking about replacing the
glass windows because of the potential danger to the children, but the
child care workers requested that the windows remain for visual
stimulation. Mr. Tatman continued that safety glass will be installed to
eliminate the safety hazard. Spohn Hospital donated $100,000 towards the
child care facility. The YMCA has entered into a contract with Spohn
Hospital to provide space for their employees' children.
The remaining area behind the theater and the Salvation Army will become
a lighted basketball court and a sanded area for volleyball. The San
Antonio Spurs basketball organization donated 810,000 to install the
basketball and volleyball courts. Mr. Tatman stated that Bobby Lee
Painting Contractor has begun painting the exterior of the structure. The
paint will be matched as close to its original color. Mr. Tatman continued
that after the paint contractor started painting, it was discovered that the
black striping was not painted on the building, but it was black marble
inlaid. The marble was cleaned and then covered to avoid getting new
paint on it. Ms. Tinker stated it would be nice if the building could be
painted sandedlorange to match the striping on the marquee and its
possible original color. Mr. Tatman stated he would pass the suggestion
on to the painters. Mr. Tatman stated the painting contractor was trying
to find the same color patterns of tile to continue the pattern across the
front of the theater and the Salvation Army Thrift Store. A question was
asked if the Thrift Store would remain in its present location and Mr.
Tatman responded yes the store will remain. Mr. Tatman continued that
the Thrift Store has signed a new five•year lease to remain in its present
location.
Landmark Commiss§110Meeting
September 22, 1994
Page 4
After the tour concluded, thanks were expressed to Mr. Tatman for
allowing the Commission to tour the facility and for sharing the vision of
what the new teen center will become.
Faryce Goode- or con, City Planner
Staff Liaison t Landmark Commission
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