Tuesday, April 27, 2010

UM-Flint Considers the Capitol Theatre

The Capitol Theatre seen from the rubble of the old Vogue store. (Photo courtesy of Grumkin)


Will UM-Flint rescue the Capitol Theatre?
Beta Mostafavi of The Flint Journal reports:
It’s possible Flint college students could someday rehearse, perform and study music in one of the city’s most treasured landmarks.

And the historic Capitol Theatre could be transformed into a music school with a recital hall, classrooms and elaborately ornate concert space, according to a feasibility study done for the University of Michigan-Flint.

But restoring the one-time entertainment hot spot famous for its Italian Renaissance architecture would have a hefty price tag of almost $25 million.

“I see this project as an attractive one that needs to be weighed against other institutional priorities,” UM-Flint’s dean of the college of arts and sciences, DJ Trela, said about moving the university’s music school into the 30,000-square-foot vintage building, which has been in the midst of restoration efforts for years.
Go here for some Capitol memories.

8 comments:

  1. As much as I love the Capitol, think of all the empty houses your could tear down or rehab with $25 million. Or how many cops you could hire. I know it's mixing apples and oranges, but is this the best way to help Flint?

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  2. Sure, you have to prioritize, but UM-Flint would be getting a tangible return on this investment — a building for students and faculty, plus a new asset on the edge of their downtown campus. In other words, there's a logical reason to spend money rehab'ing the Capitol.

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  3. On top of that, UM-Flint would be footing that bill, not the city. I highly doubt the university will be tearing down houses or hiring officers any time soon.

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  4. From what I understand UM-Flint is one of the few things that is growing, brining people (young people) and generating economic activity in Flint. I can't think of a better way to vitalize the city and get people into those houses (the ones that are still safe)than this kind of Project- Construction Jobs to students new faculty and staff- I think it is great. And I always loved the Capitol Theater

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  5. Come on UofM. Just do it all ready! It is the right thing to do! General Motors surly isn't going to. Mott is already tied up. It's UofM's turn again.

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  6. I saw Blue Oyster Cult there one time in like '75 or '76. They were experimenting with live concerts at the time. I also saw lots of movies there as a kid with my mom. I fell asleep on her lap there watching the movie "Oliver" when it first came out. That's a long movie. I remember the weird kinda blue/green glow of the illuminated clock they used to have up front. How cool I probably wouldn't have ever have thought about again it wasn't for this blog. Thanks. Good luck with the restoration efforts.

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  7. Thanks for the story and the photograph...a nice two 'fer. My grandmother took me to the Capitol and, of course, I was in tow when my mother shopped at Vogue. (And Maas!)

    Steve Vivian

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  8. Why not kill two birds with one stone host basketball & volleyball games on stage.U of M-Flint could start varsity sports use capital for arena.Seems far fetched but L.I.U and U.T.-Arlington have done this in past (Texas Hall).Texas Hall had 200 to 300 events a year athletic offices could be housed in office space in the building.Maximize the use of this pretty building

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Thanks for commenting. I moderate comments, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. You might enjoy my book about Flint called "Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City," a Michigan Notable Book for 2014 and a finalist for the 33rd Annual Northern California Book Award for Creative NonFiction. Filmmaker Michael Moore described Teardown as "a brilliant chronicle of the Mad Maxization of a once-great American city." More information about Teardown is available at www.teardownbook.com.