(Oct. 23, 2009) -- Responding to our request, Vice Mayor Val Lerch provided LBReport.com readers with his views regarding the Atlantic Ave. Theater:
[begin text from Vice Mayor Lerch]
The Atlantic Theatre issue isn't simple so the answer isn't simple.
Back to when we first started looking at designating the site for a new library, I had hoped and prayed that we'd develop the old adult book store that had a 50 seat theater in back and the larger [Atlantic] Theater into a little off-Broadway style theater complex on the site, where plays could first be performed in the small setting, and if successful could be transferred over to the big Theater.
It was always my dream to have an arts oriented area there.
I first approached the Arts Council years ago, including [then-Exec Dir.] Joan Van Hooten and no one expressed an interest in this. I reached out to Edwards Theater firm but didn't get a positive response. I contacted Magic
Johnson [who saved a Baldwin Hills neighborhood theater]. There was no interest in doing what I'd hoped for.
As recently as early September 2009, I spoke with people from MoLAA [LB's privately owned Museum of Latin American Art] about having a satellite location at the site, and we are still looking for a site for them.
But frankly, the North Long Beach community has told me: put a library and a grocery store on
that site. That's what I hear from the NLB community. And I've asked again and
again, and they say they want a library and a grocery store there.
I've told the Historical Society that I'd favor preserving the Tower and tiled entrance -- not re-creating them, preserving them -- so that when one walks into the new library, they'd walk through the historic tile entrance
and the tower would be above and reworked so it would be lighted at dusk again, a signal that for years told neighborhood kids it was time to come home for dinner.
I've been inside the Theater and it isn't what it once was. Among other things, there are far fewer seats now, it seemed like about 50 or 60 seats when originally there were several hundred.
I represent the people of North Long Beach, and those I've heard from, with the exception of Mr. Pressburg and Mr. Shore [candidates in April 2010 9th dist. election] have said give us a library and a grocery store...and those
I've spoken with would also accept my suggestion of having the tiled, historic Theater entrance serve as the entrance to the new library, with the tower restored above.
As an additional note: I favor keeping the AutoZone business on the site, and I don't believe it will be moved; I don't favor removing a good, viable business.
Again: I would love to keep the old lobby as the entrance to the new library and be able to say to neighborhood kids, "When the tower lights come on, you should be home."
There are very few things I'm certain about, but I'm very certain of this: 60-70 years from now, someone will stand up at a future NorthPAC or other meeting and say 'Please don't tear down that library. I read my first book in that
library.'
That's what happens. There'll be fond memories, when we build that library where children will read their first and subsequent books.
The Atlantic Theatre issue isn't simple so the answer isn't simple.
