Theatre owner expects to close

highlights uptown problems at CIP talks

By Mike Thibodeau

Special/Leamington Post

Leamington will probably lose another business next month, Leamington council learned, as it looked at a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) geared to its downtown.

Glenn Stencill, the owner of Star Theatre told council he "does not expect to be there in a month and half", and in an interview he confirmed his intent to close the operation after 11 years.

Stencill said he wanted to comment on CIP program that a consultant is developing for the town.

Stencill told council that parking and safety are two of the major problems in the downtown.

He said you cannot compare the parking distances at a large mall where vehicles drive slowly to vehicles going past the front of his business at 50 kmh.

In the public survey Stencill noted that some responses referred to "safety" concerns.

"You could says it's a perception and people perceive it as unsafe."

The CIP plan is expected the town to encourage property owners to develop apartments above the downtown businesses but Stencill said that won't work because they "have no parking."

He also told council that the two-hour limitation for on-street parking downtown is "sometimes not enough time."

Stencill told council he "loves the (movie) business and my customers…it's sad to let it go."

In the CIP program properties are being encouraged to go back to their original façade but Stencill says the new material covers up some ugly structures.

The CIP progam will now move into its third phase where a draft will be developed including the criteria of façade policies and funds, marketing and an action plan.

Another public meeting is roughly scheduled for early December.