The Auburn Avenue Theater is in its first stage of reconstruction. Hired by the City of Auburn, the company Rivers Edge Environmental Services will begin demolition Sept. 3, but preparation began this week.
During the demolition, the sidewalk and street parking along the north side of East Main Street, the sidewalk along the east side of Auburn Avenue, and the alleyway north of the theater will be closed, according to a news release from Mayor Nancy Backus. Pedestrian detours will be in place and parking closure notices will be provided at least 72 hours in advance. Access to apartments will remain open during the project.
Samim Qayoomi is an Auburn resident and the project engineer for the demolition.
“It’s a symbol for the community in Auburn, but we are really sad to see this being demolished,” Qayoomi said. Due to a fire at an adjacent property three years ago that caused damage to the theater, the building wasn’t safe to enter, Qayoomi said.
From the Sept. 3 start date, the demolition will continue for about 40 days, Qayoomi said. The theater being rebuilt is part of a larger plan for the Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project.
Built in 1926, the building was originally used as a bus depot, and later a movie theater and then a dinner theater. The city of Auburn entered into a lease in 2007 with the former owners, the Douglas family, which had operated the dinner theater. In 2016, the city bought the theater outright. Receipts over the last 14 years show the theater was successful both in attracting people for entertainment in the downtown core and as a money maker. The venue hosted performances summing to about 80 each year with an average annual attendance of 14,000.
More information about the demolition, including a flyer detailing the upcoming closed sections of street area, can be found at the city’s website at www.auburnwa.gov.
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