Downtown Multiplex Hailed as Star Attraction

Century Theatres today will announce plans to open a nine-screen movie theater in downtown Ventura, an attraction that could fuel the rebirth of the historic business district, city officials said.

Under the proposal by a Burbank-based developer, Century would operate a 31,200-square-foot movie theater in the 500 block of Main Street--the heart of the city’s redevelopment corridor.

The new complex would include an additional 13,600 square feet of retail space, featuring restaurants and shops, and would stretch from the corner of Main and Chestnut streets down the block to the Bank of America building.

Redevelopment manager Pat Richardson said he received confirmation from theater chain representatives Tuesday and expects a formal letter of intent to be faxed to City Hall this morning.

“We got a call from Century Theatres . . . and they have voted to go forward with the downtown project,” he said.

“As it is proposed right now, it would be one building that would have retail [stores] with the theater behind,” Richardson said.

The complex would be built on a site now dominated by the County Stationers building at the corner of Main and Chestnut. The store has been vacant for about three years, and its owners are asking $1.2 million for the 39,600-square-foot property.

Richardson said he did not know if owners of adjacent properties would be willing to sell, which may be necessary for the proposal to go forward.

City officials reacted gleefully to news of Century’s plans Tuesday night.

“Hallelujah!” Councilman Jim Friedman said. “It is the final piece in the puzzle that we have been looking for to make downtown truly what it could be.”

Councilman Gary Tuttle, recently selected head of the city’s Redevelopment Agency, said the theater project will kick downtown redevelopment into high gear.

“It gets us back on track in terms of a parking structure and a theater,” he said. “I think it is one of the best things that has happened downtown.”

The City Council is expected to consider a negotiating agreement with Burbank-based developer Victor K. Georgino and Century Theatres next week.

In September, the AMC theater chain backed out of a deal to operate a multiscreen movie theater in downtown Ventura at Main and Palm streets, leaving city officials scrambling to find another operator.

AMC’s retreat came just two weeks after Century submitted a request to build eight additional screens at its multiplex off Johnson Drive in east Ventura. AMC officials said they were backing out of the deal because of the potential glut of movie screens in the area.

But Georgino said Tuesday that Century officials are confident the Ventura market can sustain an additional 17 screens and suggested that AMC was scared away by Century’s proposed expansion.

“[Century] feels it will complement their eight-screen,” Georgino said.

In addition to Century 8, Ventura has the Mann Buenaventura Theatres and the 101 Drive-In Theatres.

Opening a theater downtown has been a top goal for city leaders, who hope a movie house will lure people to the recently renovated area. The city spent $4.5 million last year to widen sidewalks on Main and California streets and to plant new trees.

“We really believe a movie theater is the type of anchor downtown needs to prosper,” Richardson said.

But he added that the theater project will require months of negotiations.

“This is a positive step that we are going to receive this letter of intent, but this is just the first step,” Richardson said. “What happens next is it is kind of like starting at ground one.”

Under the agreement drafted with Georgino and AMC, the city will be required to construct a $4-million parking structure to accommodate 527 cars. The city has already set aside nearly $2 million.

The new deal with Century also calls for a city-built parking structure, which would be located in the lot where the farmers’ market is now held, on Santa Clara Street between California and Chestnut streets, Richardson said.

Although city officials had hoped to locate a theater in the 200 block of Main Street, Georgino said Century was lured by the smaller location up the street, which is near established restaurants and coffeehouses.

City leaders said they care less about where the theater is located than that it is built.

“The 200 block could have used the upgrade, but on the other hand, the 500 block ensures that the theater will be even a greater success because it is in the heart of downtown,” Tuttle said. “I just want to see it get done.”