Cinemas Building Takes the Next Step Toward Reuse

Washington Township is moving ahead with plans to place two-thirds of the former Centerville Cinemas building into use by early 2005.

The renovation project features a 250-seat auditorium, teen center, one small gym, restroom improvements and an open, multi-use area located between the building's two sets of theaters. Depending on the cost, the township also will install two racquetball courts. Areas to be renovated include three out of the six cinemas, the original lobby area, and a wide center hallway.

"We're moving forward to convert the cinemas into an important community center," said Township Administrator Gary Huff. "This is a scaled back version compared to what we envisioned when the Spring 2003 tax levy failed, but we're putting the building to good use and, in the process, generating money for the recreation center."

The project - estimated to cost $650,000 - will be paid with estate taxes. Construction design was prepared by Levin Porter Associates Inc.

The remaining third of the cinemas building - the two theaters to the north - will not be renovated for the time being and will continue to store materials and supplies for Woodland Lights, the township's holiday lighting event. When township trustees placed a 1.5-mill levy before voters in Spring 2003, they had planned to expand the north side of the building and convert the theaters into one middle school and one high school-size gymnasium.

By purchasing the cinemas building for $2 million in 2001, the township so far has preserved vital parking space for recreation center users and maintained their ability to exit onto McEwen Road.

The first step toward putting the cinemas building back into use occurred last fall when the west-central theater opened as an alternative high school called the School of Possibilities. About 30 to 40 students are enrolled.

To support its program, Centerville City Schools converted the nearly 5,000-square-foot theater - one of six in the building - into two classrooms, a computer learning area, conference room, break room, and a reception space/staff work area. Under its ten-year lease, the school district pays rent to cover utilities and maintenance, plus hazard insurance. For the '04-'05 school year, that amounts to $8,275.

Under the new, scaled back plan, the alternative school is located in the theater that would have been converted into multi-purpose space. The township decided to proceed with an auditorium in the southwest theater area instead because conversion costs are substantially lower, Huff said. Floors do not need to be adjusted and original seating will remain