“Twenty people attended Tuesday night’s public hearing on the matter, with three speaking in favor and the owner of the property at 230 Market St. once again saying the building is not historically significant.
“We believe a restoration of the Grand Theatre can be the locomotive driving Downtown development,” said Bill McKenzie of Alton, who formed a committee of citizens wanting to save the building.
“The wave of the future is tourism,” McKenzie said. “Olin is on life support, the glass factory is not coming back and neither is Alton Box Board.”
“ALTON – The Alton Historical Commission on Tuesday will consider whether it should designate the old Grand Theatre as a city historical landmark.
A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 101 E. Third St.
Commissioners will have 30 days to review testimony and submitted information and make a decision, which could be appealed to the City Council.
Bill McKenzie of Alton this summer spearheaded an effort to get the 90-year-old building, 230 Market St., placed on the city’s landmark list so it might qualify for tax credits for renovations.
He brought his supporting information to a commission meeting Aug. 17. Members voted to grant the hearing, despite property owner Ed McPike’s contention that the structure is not historically significant."
Here’s the follow-up article:
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“Twenty people attended Tuesday night’s public hearing on the matter, with three speaking in favor and the owner of the property at 230 Market St. once again saying the building is not historically significant.
“We believe a restoration of the Grand Theatre can be the locomotive driving Downtown development,” said Bill McKenzie of Alton, who formed a committee of citizens wanting to save the building.
“The wave of the future is tourism,” McKenzie said. “Olin is on life support, the glass factory is not coming back and neither is Alton Box Board.”
This article is from the 09/19/2010 Alton Telegraph:
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From the article:
“ALTON – The Alton Historical Commission on Tuesday will consider whether it should designate the old Grand Theatre as a city historical landmark.
A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 101 E. Third St.
Commissioners will have 30 days to review testimony and submitted information and make a decision, which could be appealed to the City Council.
Bill McKenzie of Alton this summer spearheaded an effort to get the 90-year-old building, 230 Market St., placed on the city’s landmark list so it might qualify for tax credits for renovations.
He brought his supporting information to a commission meeting Aug. 17. Members voted to grant the hearing, despite property owner Ed McPike’s contention that the structure is not historically significant."