Owner of Saskatoon’s Roxy Theatre says new owner should decide on heritage status

There’s a movement in Saskatoon to see whether the 92-year-old Roxy Theatre can be designated a heritage site.

The problem is, Tom Hutchinson — who has owned the theatre for nearly 20 years — said no one has contacted him about that.

During a city committee meeting Monday, the Saskatoon Heritage Society’s Peggy Sarjeant talked about the theatre’s importance to the city.

“(The Roxy Theatre) is one of only five atmospheric cinemas left in the country and the only atmospheric cinema between Manitoba and the west coast,” she said.

“If we are interested in preserving the unique identity of Saskatoon and preserving cultural heritage … then we must step (up) to the plate and … explore any avenue to support the Roxy.”

Atmospheric cinemas were popular in the 1920s and ’30s and were designed to make patrons feel like they were in a specific time and place.

Currently, the theatre on 20th Street West is listed for sale on the ICR Commercial Real Estate site for $995,000.

Ward 2 Coun. Hilary Gough said there should be a conversation between the city’s Heritage Planner and the property owner. She acknowledged that Hutchinson had invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to renovate the theatre in order to keep it open to the community.

“We’ve heard very clearly from the Heritage advisory committee … and also the Heritage Society … that there is great concern for the future of this building,” Gough said.

However, Hutchinson said he hasn’t heard from anyone with the Saskatoon Heritage Society.

“You probably have a black desk phone on your desk that’s got a handset and a dial. And you pick it up and you dial it,” he said.

He maintained a decision on any future designation would be up to whoever the new owner may be.

“I don’t know why they think historic designation is going to make a difference to anything,” he said. “If they’d like to come and tell me why it would be helpful to me or tell me how it would be helpful to the new owner, sure, I’m more than willing to have that discussion.

“But why would I do something that there was no benefit to? I spent $150,000 two years ago on the roof. I didn’t see council lining up at that point with their purse open.”

At this point, however, Hutchinson said he hasn’t even “had a nibble” as far as a potential buyer goes.

Ward 6 Coun. Cynthia Block said the potential sale of the property was important to everyone.

“At a minimum, I would like to know we are making some direct contact (and) asking the owner what would be required for a heritage status to be considered … and how we as a city and community would look at ways to support it,” Block said.

Heritage sites may be eligible for tax relief and certain grants, including maintenance grants. However, according to the city, “the owner is required to maintain the property and must have civic approval to alter the heritage elements of the property. This protection is in the form of a bylaw, which is registered against the title of the property and continues to apply when ownership changes.”

Councillors voted for administration to engage with the property owner of the Roxy and to report back at a later date.