Takoma Theatre Conservancy - Takoma Theatre Conservancy

At a ceremony on April 17, Takoma Theatre Conservancy President Loretta Neumann received one of the "Azalea Awards" sponsored by the Takoma Foundation and Takoma Voice newspaper.  Hers was the annual "Takivist" award for someone who "exemplifies Takoma-style civic leadership."  In accepting the award, Loretta stressed that the award was not for her personally, but also for the Conservancy and its board, members, volunteers and donors, who have helped in saving the Takoma Theatre from demolition. She stressed that the goal is to revive the theatre as a vibrant cultural arts and education center for the benefit of the entire community.

[February, 2011] In testimony before the DC Council’s Committee of the Whole Oversight Hearing on the Office of Planning (OP) and Historic Preservation Office (HPO) , Conservancy President Loretta Neumann, urged continued support for OP/HPO, but expressed concern that HPO had not yet developed regulations to implement the DC Historic Preservation Act’s “Demolition by Neglect” provisions, now a decade old.  The Conservancy brought the deteriorating condition of the historic Takoma Theatre and lack of maintenance by the owner, Mr. Milton McGinty, to the attention of HPO, but because no regulations had been developed they were unable to act. Ms. Neumann urged the Council to support the development of these regulations by HPO.
-- Testimony by Ms. Loretta Neumann to the DC Council's Committee of the Whole Oversight Hearing, February 16, 2011

[January, 2011] At their meeting on Jan 24th, ANC4B Commissioners gave their approval (6-0) to a resolution urging the DC government to take a stronger role related to the development of the theatre property.  The Conservancy sought ANC and the city's support citing the deteriorating condition of the theatre building.   The resolution introduced by Commission Wheeler (4B02) notes the recent actions by DC's Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs to fine the owner for failure to rectify conditions identified in a building inspection. The approved resolution reads(in part):

• "ANC 4B urges the District of Columbia to take a leadership role in exploring options for development for this key property that will enhance and strengthen uses consistent with economic development, its status as a contributing structure in the Takoma Park Historic District, and especially community needs and desires, including a community cultural arts and education center providing programs, training and services for Wards 3, 4 and 5."

• "Cognizant of the profound sacrifices and funding delays that many programs and projects are experiencing during the District’s fiscal crisis, ANC 4B asks that the District of Columbia consider the capital budget requests for this purpose [as it becomes feasible to do so and] in respectful regard for funding priorities of the Executive Branch and the Council of the District of Columbia."

(Read full text . . .)

[October, 2010] At the public meeting convened by CM Bowser, DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) reported to concerned theater neighbors and community members that following an inspection of the Takoma Theatre the agency served the owner with a Notice of Violation relating to the condition of the shuttered building.  Under the Notice the owner, Mr. Milton McGinty, has 30 days (until Nov 22) to abate the conditions.  The inspection conducted by DCRA officials with Mr. McGinty, found that two corrective items would be required: to fix the holes in the leaking roof, and to paint the currently peeling façade areas.

Following questions from the audience, DCRA officials outlined the processes to follow the Notice.  If the owner complies, no further actions would be taken.  If the conditions are not abated, DCRA will file a Notice of Infraction.  The owner will then have 15 days to appeal to the Office of Administrative Hearings.  If an Appeal is filed, the process then moves to the Court system.  If no appeal is filed, the owner would be subject to a series of progressively increasing fines for not performing the corrective actions.

Community members had expressed concerns about the deterioration of the building, a contributing structure in the Takoma Historic District, and a circulating letter from Mr. McGinty stating he would no longer maintain the facility.  Participants suggested that the owner might be exercising “demolition by neglect.”

CM Bowser advocated continuing to seek a working solution with Mr. McGinty that would not be round-after-round of fines and taxes, while acknowledging that the DC government with its economic shortfalls could not be the prime funding agent of that solution.

[May, 2010] Transcript and news reports of Mayor's Agent decision 

− Mayor's Agent Decision and Order, HPA 09-380, May 21, 2010
− "DC rules Takoma Theatre cannot be torn down", NewsChannel8
− "City gives final "No" to demolition of Takoma Theatre", Washington City Paper, May 24, 2010
− "City says no demo for 1923 Takoma Theatre", Northwest Current, May 28, 2010
− "Theatre owner's bid to partially demolish building denied", Gazette.Net, June 2, 2010
− "Theater-less District? A playwright wants to gut his own historict theater", Washington City Paper, June 3, 2010

[May, 2010] Testimony and transcripts from Mayor's Agent Hearing

— Summary of Mayor's Agent Hearing, Jan 22, 2010 .
— Takoma Theatre Conservancy Memoradum submission to Mayor's Agent, pre-hearing
— Takoma Theatre Conservancy Letter to Mayor's Agent in reply to further submission by owner
— Official Transcript, Mayor's Agent Hearing, Jan 22, 2010