by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Since the days of vaudeville, the Florida Theatre has seen hundreds of stars from every genre of entertainment pass through its doors on the way to the stage. As the result of a recent capital campaign, 39 permanent stars will soon be installed in front of the historic venue’s ticket booth on Forsyth Street.
The Downtown Development Review Board of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission approved Thursday an alteration to the sidewalk in front of the building that will allow cast metal five-pointed stars bearing the names of individuals and corporate donors to be set into a new stained concrete surface, replacing the existing paver brick surface.
The “Florida Theatre Walk of Stars” is the debut of a fundraising campaign that hopefully one day will be extended the length of the building, said Florida Theatre President Erik Hart.
He added it’s the first time since 1995 the theater has mounted a fund-raising campaign. Donors contributed from $10,000-$250,000 for each star.
The work will be done by general contractor and Florida Theatre Board member Bob Perrett.
“This project will cost the Florida Theatre zero dollars,” he said. “My company and the subcontractors will absorb all costs.”
Perrett also said the surface will meet or exceed all federal and state safety standards and will require no more maintenance than any other sidewalk surface.
The funds raised are already being used for improvements and additional restoration including replacement of the marble on the ticket booth.
“Once people see these stars, they’re going to want one of their own,” said Hart.
Also before the board was a request for a Waiver of Minimum Distance for a beer and wine license at 521 W. Forsyth St. between Clay and Broad streets.
The building involved is one of the few structures that survived the Great Fire of 1901 and was originally a slaughterhouse. Later tenants include Chili Bordello and the Imperial and Voodoo Lounge nightclubs. Both had licenses for full alcohol service.
The building has been empty for six years, said Robin Hamill, who with a partner plans to open what he called a “performance art venue.”
City regulations require a minimum distance of 1,500 feet between an establishment with a liquor license and any church or school. The building in question is 1,224 feet from the nearest such site.
When board members questioned whether it was prudent to continue to grant waivers without set guidelines as to maximum intrusion, JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton pointed out, “There’s going to be a really large institutional facility (the new County Courthouse) between the bar and any schools or churches.”
JEDC Manager Eric Lindstrom pointed out that the City requirements were written for the suburbs and due to the inherent density of the urban core.
“The only Downtown location that wouldn’t require a waiver is the Landing,” said Lindstrom.
The request was granted and the club will open under the name, “Sinclair,” said Hamill.
Following a lengthy discussion, DDRB sent a recommendation to the Land Use & Zoning Committee of the City Council to proceed with a proposed ordinance to remove 15 coin operated telephones currently installed Downtown on public right of ways and in public parks. The language of the ordinance has already been approved by the JEDC.
Following a presentation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and JEDC staff detailing the nuisance crime, safety, sanitation and streetscape issues involved with the telephones, the DDRB approved the recommendation with the condition that the existing telephones not be removed before the City installs emergency telephones similar to those found on college campuses. Another condition attached to the recommendation is that the Office of General Counsel have a meeting with the telephone providers’ professional association to discuss the issue.
After the vote, Bruce Swearingen, president of Florida Public Telephone Company and the owner of several of the telephones that would be affected by the proposed legislation, said his technicians clean the phones once a month.
“Or even more often. We test the phones regularly from our office and if one is out of order, we repair and clean it immediately,” he said.
Bruce Renard, executive director of the Florida Public Telecommunications Association, said a meeting with the City’s legal department is scheduled for Wednesday. He’s hoping for a productive dialogue that could lead to the telephones not being removed.
“Cities all over Florida have ordinances that allow pay phones on public property. I’m confident we can reach an agreement in Jacksonville as well,” he said.
346-2466