Took a bunch of photos today of the Lincoln Theater Open House Tour. Big crowds and a big turnout. Great weather for it, and lots of people hanging around outside to eat and drink and hang out. Good stuff!

 

(And a quick side note... does this project have it's own page? We've been talking about it in the <A href="http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1840.60/topicseen.html">NoBo/KLD Neighborhood Thread</a>, but this massive individual project really should have had its own page for years now... unless I'm missing something...)

 

Anyway, on to the photos....

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_01.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_02.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_03.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_04.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_05.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_06.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_07.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_08.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_09.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_10.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_11.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_12.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_13.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_14.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_15.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_16.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_17.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_18.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_19.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_20.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_21.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_22.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_23.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_24.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln_25.jpg" />

Looks beautiful.

The Lincoln Theatre looks great - inside and outside.  Thanks for the photos.

 

Looked like a well attended grand opening.  You even got Mayor Coleman in one the shots taken from the addition's roof.

Wonderful!!!  I'm so proud of that theater!

Awesome!  Looks like they did a great job with the renovation.

Looks like a great asset to the community.

wow, nice to see that formerly forlorn looking building put back to what looks like a variety of good uses!

Thanks, all! :D

 

Looked like a well attended grand opening. You even got Mayor Coleman in one the shots taken from the addition's roof.

 

Yeah, he was hanging out up there when I came through the second time with the camera. He was there pretty much all day to greet people. ;)

Love the interior. I took a picture too.

 

 

Wow, when did my lens get dirty? Now I have to invest in a special (expensive I'm sure) cloth. Grr. While I wish the best for the KLD and see this as a great asset, I can't help but notice that the Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre, and Ohio Theatre, which are all Downtown and don't face the image problem of a Near-East side neighborhood, combined did nothing to attract development. Development in the form of residences and businesses need to come first, i.e. the smaller, but overall more important stuff when it comes to revitalization.

^ i use this tiny half ounce rite-aid lens cleaner pump spray and packets of rite-aid lens cleaning cloth. good for glass and plastic. cheap and it always seems to work fine for my lens. report back what you decide to use will ya?

That place is legit.  Old school theatre palace!

While I wish the best for the KLD and see this as a great asset, I can't help but notice that the Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre, and Ohio Theatre, which are all Downtown and don't face the image problem of a Near-East side neighborhood, combined did nothing to attract development.

 

Do you know if there are even any Development opportunities surrounding those downtown theaters? Most are immediately surrounded by commercial office buildings and government buildings. To "invest" you essentially need to be a large scale developer with a very specific plan, and you need to find someone willing to sell their building (or parking lot if you're just talking about infill) for the right price. It's easy to point at a parking lot and say "something cool should go there" but if the owner doesn't want to sell it, and there's no developer that wants to buy it, then the only opportunity that exists is the imaginary one in your head.

 

As for the Lincoln Theatre, it's surrounded by several blocks that include many single-family homes for sale, empty lots for sale, commercial buildings for sale, and quite a bit of real potential. You don't have to be a millionaire to invest over here either, and that's really the type of private investment that we're going to see occurring around this building. People who want an affordable option close to downtown that already has a few next-door amenities.

 

So yeah... color me optimistic, but I really think that the complete difference in location for the Lincoln is exactly what makes the redevelopment potential that much greater.

Also... this is from last night... cross-posted from CU:

 

Tonight was the first show (Maurice Hines) at the Lincoln, which was completely sold out. I had meetings and things to do all evening and didn't get home until around 9:30 tonight, and was pleasantly greeted coming home to the KLD by the wonderful sight of hustle and bustle and life and activity and energy and excitement on East Long Street.

 

I turned the corner and drove the block home and got my camera out and hurried back over. I passed several older couples headed back to their cars parked on my street, which seemed like a very out of place sight in this neck of the woods (to be walking down the sidewalk at almost 10pm at night). I made it a point to smile and say hi to everyone I saw. Welcome welcome welcome! Friendly friendly friendly!

 

Around the corner, a mass of people stood in front of the Theatre post-show to hang out and chat and wait for their significant others to fetch their vehicles. A cop stood out in the street to direct traffic. Many ducked across the street in between cars to head into the open doors of the Zanzibar Cafe. People poured in as loud jazz music poured out. The music sounded live, but I didn't get a chance to go inside. I'm wondering if they're still working on that liquor license.

 

I walked across the street to take more photos in front of the Theatre. I only managed to get a few before the sky opened up and rain dumped hard for five quick minutes, which sent everyone yelping for cover under awnings and overhangs. Not wanting to waterlog my digital camera, I decided to jog back home in my squishy flip-flops. Smiling all the way.

 

I know not every show will sell out. But I can't help but be excited about this. Looking forward to more energetic evenings.

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln1.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln2.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln3.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln4.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln5.jpg" />

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lincoln6.jpg" />

 

And a very short video of the music outside Zanzibar. I should have taken more, but again... was in a hurry. ;)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc3VIjl0O1M

 

While I wish the best for the KLD and see this as a great asset, I can't help but notice that the Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre, and Ohio Theatre, which are all Downtown and don't face the image problem of a Near-East side neighborhood, combined did nothing to attract development.

 

Do you know if there are even any Development opportunities surrounding those downtown theaters? Most are immediately surrounded by commercial office buildings and government buildings. To "invest" you essentially need to be a large scale developer with a very specific plan, and you need to find someone willing to sell their building (or parking lot if you're just talking about infill) for the right price. It's easy to point at a parking lot and say "something cool should go there" but if the owner doesn't want to sell it, and there's no developer that wants to buy it, then the only opportunity that exists is the imaginary one in your head.

 

As for the Lincoln Theatre, it's surrounded by several blocks that include many single-family homes for sale, empty lots for sale, commercial buildings for sale, and quite a bit of real potential. You don't have to be a millionaire to invest over here either, and that's really the type of private investment that we're going to see occurring around this building. People who want an affordable option close to downtown that already has a few next-door amenities.

 

So yeah... color me optimistic, but I really think that the complete difference in location for the Lincoln is exactly what makes the redevelopment potential that much greater.

 

I understand your point, but there are plenty of lots within walking distance of theatres downtown, however land property values are all skewed much too high to dissuade building and I'm sure the auditor isn't about to correct that. If the city took initiative to give a disincentive for sitting on land that could be used for development I think that would help a lot. That would encourage not only owners of parking lots, but long-standing empty buildings, to make better use of what's Downtown.  Of course, it's not like this is a new situation that the city is facing; they just haven't taken much action to seriously address it.

 

As for the image problem in KLD, which is very real and why those lots continue to be for sale, a lot of media publicity of the new bustling activity can only help. However, you still have scary-looking carryouts since there are no design standards for Long Street. I mean scary for visitors, to me it's just ugly. Then you have several blocks without a light or crosswalk for pedestrians, desolate overgrown grassy lots that need temporary beautification (until they're built on), abandoned buildings that need paint jobs or murals, all of which contribute a list of negatives which don't afflict Downtown's image. With the focus turned on the new theatre, it is vital for these additional changes to be made to Long and they need to happen very soon in order to bolster the general image of King-Lincoln and attract development to fill in the gaps.

I'm not saying those changes in KLD shouldn't be made. And I agree that more could be done to encourage development downtown.

 

Simply pointing out that the area around The Lincoln is not apples-to-apples with the Capital Square area where those other theaters sit.

 

 

 

Each has it's set of problems which prevents spinoff development, and I'm hoping KL will show Downtown how it's done. I can't say I don't have my doubts, but it has a better chance than Downtown if there are efforts taken to fix the blight image. I'm going to see if these wildflower seeds take root on a grass lot, so at least I'm trying.

Sure, each has a set of challenges that the city needs to address. But that's beside the point.

 

What I'm trying to say is that as a private citizen and private investor... if I only have $50-150k to spend on a residence, then there are opportunities galore around the Lincoln Theatre and nothing in my price range around Capital Square. A small business owner/developer with a slightly larger budget looking to purchase a rehab building or build something new is also in the same situation with plenty of opportunity around the Lincoln, and nothing affordable downtown.

 

To develop downtown it takes a LOT of money. And there are a very limited number of people and companies who can afford that.

 

The number of small developers and potential homeowners who can buy into the area around the Lincoln Theatre is a much much larger pool.

 

So your original comparison to the lack of development around the other downtown theaters is a completely different situation with a completely different set of expectations and costs when it comes to investment.

 

Apples.

 

Oranges.

I don't see any development sprouting because of the Lincoln Theatre nor do I see any development drawn Downtown to 3x that number of theatres built in the numerous surrounding empty lots or even a retail boost in nearby commercial buildings. The price and number of empty lots doesn't matter in the big picture. There's enough money for either to happen to improve the desirability of both neighborhoods, but I don't see developers, big or small, finding a theatre a compelling enough reason to build or renovate. For some reason, there's just no desire to make theatre-centered development happen, even though lots of successful urban business districts (and the nice property values that come with them) have a theatre or theater located on them. 

 

That larger pool of investors you're talking about for King-Lincoln is imaginary, since many of them would never consider living near or developing on Long St in it's current state. We see the potential there, but most can't and that needs to change. So I guess that brings us to the question of if you can see potential where virtually no one else can: does it really exist? Of course, if you know something I don't and some developers are interested to build east of the theatre and cite it as one of the reasons for their location, then I'll glady eat my words. But like I said, I'm going with the lack of desire to develop in a not-so-popular urban environment and that they won't be swayed by a theatre, whether the developer is overflowing with money or not.

It sounds like you're looking for someone to cite the Theater as their main/only reason for building, but I'm willing to bet that many will consider it as one (of many) reasons for building.

 

When we bought over here, the theater was one of our reasons for selecting this location and this neighborhood. I'm willing to bet others investing over here would say the same. Not everyone has to make such dramatic statements for explaining their actions.

 

And I'm not trying to pass the area off as a neighborhood that anyone and everyone will see the potential in. Those types of judgements are very personal and subjective. But I still feel strongly that there are enough people who can (and do) see the potential over here and are slowly moving in, day by day.