Here are a few snippets from an article on the Orlando Sentinel website today, describing how the planned 12-screen movie theater at the heart of The Plaza project may no longer happen.
Developer Cameron Kuhn said Thursday that he is all but broke, in the process of swapping property and assets to clear his debt, and will soon be down to just one employee to keep his Orlando-based development business going.
The Plaza project …
Kuhn said he is preparing to move the last of his inventory out of The Plaza, his trophy project on Orange Avenue between Pine and Church streets. The mixed-use office-condo and residential-condo towers were the largest redevelopment project in downtown history. Kuhn said that, once he auctions off items to repay bank debt, he no longer will have any control over what happens there.
Regarding the movie theater …
Kuhn said a long-delayed multiplex theater at the heart of the project might not open now, though it essentially is complete except for seating and interior finishing work. Last November, AMC Theatres said it had agreed to operate the 12-screen complex and expected to be showing movies in early 2008. Kuhn, who had been leasing the theater space from California-based RP Partners Inc., said Thursday that RP “has taken the position” that the theater will not be completed. An RP spokesman said Thursday he wasn’t sure about the status.
While I don’t live downtown, I think a mainstream movie theater would be a great addition to the area. The mix of dining, entertainment and nightlife would be somewhat comparable to Universal’s CityWalk, Pleasure Island and the Winter Park Village, to name a few.
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5 Comments for “Movie theater in Downtown Orlando may not happen”
April 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
If Kuhn is unloading the theater, Universal or Disney could get a steal of a deal, which would include their name marketing where it is sorely missing downtown. I know from word of mouth that there is a ton of interest to attend the theater downtown. I am part of the 30 somethings that are willing to spend money downtown to skip a commute. I barely drive now and all my friends are wanting to move downtown - the theater is a perfect addition…
April 9th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I definitely agree with Jason on this. I currently live downtown and have been patiently waiting for the theater to open. I am disappointed that the project might be let go, and I think someone should pick it back up. Who better to do it than the mega-stars of Orlando and our tourist industry?
April 9th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Having the Disney or Universal name behind the theater would be disappointing, especially if it were promoted as such. I’d rather see a private owner that would be willing to bring in movies that don’t normally make it in the Orlando market (at least once in a while). Right now, the theater in Winter Park does a decent job, but a downtown theater would be the perfect spot for such films.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I have to agree with Chad on this one. A theme park heavyweight bailout would be a mistake, if it were even an option. Can it truly be possible that NONE of the more than 700 members of the National Association of Theatre Owners consider The Plaza to be a viable movie theater location? Wow.
If for whatever reason there STILL isn’t a theater open by October (a ridiculous, but not entirely implausible notion), then I would highly suggest having either the city, or whoever owns the space (RP Partners Inc.?), or both, attend ShowEast, rent a booth and court any and all interested parties. A sign reading “HELP MAKE DOWNTOWN ORLANDO LESS DEPRESSING!” would not be entirely out of the option. (Please don’t me have to do this. Booths for non-members are $3,350.)
April 15th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
A theatre downtown is one of the core answers to the lack of activity and interest in locals going downtown, unless one plans on eating, drinking, or dancing, there are few other options for the downtown evening scene. A movie theatre would not only lure all age groups but also encourage and protect retail groups who are looking to rent space in the multiple suites the downtown are condos have to offer- including Solaire at the Plaza, which has plenty of empty space that needs to be filled.
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