The Lincoln City Council voted to stick with the current theater policy for now. The move is laudable in that it makes the Council's intentions clear (something they typically do a pretty poor job of), but it's unfortunate in that it prevents some pretty decent economic development opportunities. The Council's support for the policy is rooted in a misguided -- but understandable -- desire to "save" Downtown. How is building resentment toward Downtown a viable and sustainable redevelopment engine? That hasn't been made clear. The Council's pro-policy stance also helps the Council save face. If they drop the policy, The Grand will be exposed for what it is: the wrong theater in the wrong place built at the wrong time. Lincoln's theatergoers know it; the Douglas Theater Company knows it; just about everybody knows it, save for a handful of people, such as Polly McMullen of the Downtown Lincoln Association.
I love Downtown, and I'm all in favor of supporting a few screens Downtown. But artificially propping up an inappropriate suburban-style theater with economic development-stifling policies does more harm than good.
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I appreciate your comments about the Grand. You are right, they know it too, but you can’t help them for trying to make the best out of a less than beneficial situation. My wife works there as an Asst. Manager and, while its nice to have an anchoring theater D/T, I sort of miss the little ones where you could have 8 movies showing in venues with different character.
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