LOGANSPORT — Logansport Theater LLC, created specifically to build the proposed Logansport movie theater, should break ground the first week in December, a manager with the company said.
Bill Hawes said he is anxious to get the project rolling. He said they are more excited about a five-screen multiplex than they ever have been.
“We had hoped to have broken ground by now, but the reasons we haven’t yet are all good reasons,” Hawes said.
Hawes said they have improved projection, sound systems, seating and will have 3-D capabilities.
The theater would create four full-time positions and roughly 28 part time positions, Hawes said.
Mayor Ted Franklin said the plans have been improved from their original design.
Franklin said he can’t emphasize enough how exciting the project is.
“It could very easily be a model theater for future development,” Franklin said.
Plans for the movie theater, which will occupy part of a 23-acre tract of land on the city’s east side, was approved by the City Council in early September, staff records state.
Hawes said the projection, sound and entire theater will be beyond cutting edge and the equipment they will be using won’t be available before spring, but they are getting it early.
“We’re one of the first in the country to get this projection equipment,” Hawes said. “We let things go so we weren’t getting ahead of ourselves or the available equipment.”
Hawes said they chose Logansport because they are excited about the economic development taking place on the east side of town, where the theater will be built.
“We’re very excited about what we can do and it has a lot to do with timing and the availability of this equipment,” Hawes said. “We feel it’s worth the investment.”
Franklin said he is continuing to work behind the scenes with the state theater.
“I’m trying to help both theaters succeed,” Franklin said. “I don’t want to do that at the expense of the existing business.”
Hawes said they need permitting to come from the city and they are still targeting the same job creation date – December or January – whether or not it will be opened or they will just be hiring.
Arin Shaver, Logansport-Cass County director of planning, said subdivision of the property has not been recorded, but has been approved by all committees. Shaver said they are now working with the building commissioner to get permits.
Hawes said they typically build 55,000 square foot buildings in 180 to 200 days. He said the movie theater will be smaller and, as long as there aren’t problems in the infrastructure, he expects it to take 120 total days.
Amie Sites is a reporter at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5150 or amie.sites@pharostribune.com.
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