The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
The debris that grew inside the empty Afton Theatre for years is now gone. On Wednesday, a judge shuffled through before-and-after photos and called the transformation amazing.
But fundraising to rescue the 1930s-era movie theater is minimal so far, Assistant City Attorney Burle U. Stromberg told the judge.
The building needs a new roof, and Stromberg said that will cost an estimated $100,000.
Still, the work that has been accomplished won the owner another six months to continue the efforts to bring the theater back to life.
The city had sought help from the courts in February, describing the building as a health and safety hazard. Judge James C. Hawks agreed and has had the owner come in twice to give updates on efforts to resolve the issue.
By February, Afton owner David Beachler had recruited Fred Schoenfeld, owner of downtown's Commodore Theatre to help him do a similar revival.
At Wednesday's hearing, Stromberg told the judge that "overall, they've made substantial progress."
Stromberg said the owner could get tax credits to help with the renovation.
Beachler and Schoenfeld also are trying to get educational grants by turning the rehabilitation project into a training opportunity for community college students and volunteers who want to learn the process of renovating a building.
After Wednesday's hearing, Schoenfeld pointed to popular home improvement TV shows and said there is "tremendous interest" in renovating old buildings. He said that if they succeed in bringing back the Afton, they could move on to neighboring buildings in the World War I-era business square.
The next court date was scheduled for Feb. 7. In addition to reporting on progress in fundraising, the judge said an asbestos report should be presented.
Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com
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Who will Pay
You can bet that the local's in Cradock will not donate money to repair this building, There is not a lot of neighborhood pride left in Cradock!, the makeup of it's residents have changed over the years and now it is mostly low income residents!.
GLASS HOUSES
Man I hope you don't live in Cradock!!! If you do, please get the hell out of the neighborhood and let the positive people get to work on improving their community. If you don't live in Cradock, then stay where you are and let your negative attitude haunt your own neighborhood.
Diamondjack
There may be many things any outsider perceives about the Cradock community but the denegration of our 'neighborhood pride' isn't warranted.
'Pride' isn't something an onlooker can judge.
Cradock has rallied against some pretty horrendous odds. We're still rallying and we're standing strong. 'Pride' is alive and well.
Diversity is embraced. On my street alone, owner-occupied dwellings are homes to hard-working individuals with an interesting range of professionals, tradesmen, and graduate students. Many of the residents have a deep-rooted history with this neighborhood. Others are creating one for their own families.
As previously stated, denegrating the pride of a community based on perception is counter-intuitive.
Hopeful
I really hope this project is successful. It'd be a great thing for Cradock and Portsmouth!!! Fred Schoenfeld is a brillant man and with his help, I do believe this can be done. Good luck! A really big fundraiser is needed. What about you Cradock residents???
Community Project
If the Craddock community truly wants to save the Afton, they should rally around the cause and raise funds to make it a jewel again. If it is of no value to the community, the owner should improve it or tear it down. Many old theaters across the US have been saved and turned into economic generators for a town or neighborhood. This could be the case IF Craddock wants the Afton saved.
I have an idea!
The City of Portsmouth fought a $75 building permit to refurbish a old old church and ended up paying big bucks [Millions] and look ....... nothing has changed with the old, old church. The City of Portsmouth spent 2.4 million to build a Round-A-Bout [A Traffic Circle has Stop Signs and a Round-A-Bout has Yield Signs], that goes NO WHERE! The City of Portsmouth needs to help a retired Portsmouth police officer to bring life back into the heart of Cradock!