Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Court Grants City's Request to Inspect Tower Theatre
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 2 years ago on
October 12, 2021

Share

A Fresno judge says the city has the right to inspect inside the Tower Theatre, a move the theater owners have long resisted.

In a tentative ruling issued on Tuesday afternoon, Judge D. Tyler Tharpe found that state law allows “a person authorized to acquire property by eminent domain, such as the City of Fresno “may enter upon property to make … appraisals or to engage in similar  activities reasonably related to acquisition or use of the property for that use.”

In a court filing earlier this month, the city says it wants to inspect the theater to make sure historic preservation is being achieved.

“The City is assessing the need for and/or feasibility of further preservation and protection of Tower Theatre based on the property’s historic designation. This includes a potential acquisition of an interest in the property or enacting other regulations to further public purposes and use,” the city said.

The city says eminent domain — the government taking private property — is a possibility.

The judge says the city and the theater must agree to an inspection time within 30 days.

Second Request for Entry

A court had previously rejected the city’s request to inspect the Tower Theatre. The decision was made on technical grounds because the owners were not properly served legal paperwork.

The city renewed its request, which has now been granted.

The ruling is somewhat of a change to Tharpe’s ruling in July. Although he denied the inspection based on technical grounds, Tharpe cast doubt whether there was sufficient evidence to move forward with an inspection.

“The court finds the nature and purpose of the entry to be consistent with the statutory scheme and reasonably narrow in scope. Contrary to respondents’ arguments, to obtain entry the statutory scheme does not require the City to show that the historical landmark status of Tower Theater is threatened or in any danger,” Tharpe wrote on Tuesday.

Tharpe ruled that the city may send more than just a historic preservation appraiser to conduct the inspection. However, he will keep the compensation the city must pay to the theater owners at $140.

Councilmember Esmeralda Soria, who represents the block where the Tower Theatre is located, has pushed for the inspection. In prior statements, she said she wanted to make sure the historic theater is being preserved.

Pending Sale, Protests Continue

Laurence Abbate, whose family owns the 1930s-era theater, has attempted to sell the property to Adventure Church since last year. The sale would include the theater and other property on the block at Olive and Wishon avenues.

But, a tenant on the property, Sequoia Brewing Company, has fought the move in court. It argued that it had a first right of refusal to buy its property, a right not granted with the proposed sale.

Despite Fresno County Superior Court rulings against the brewery, an aspect of case is pending an appeal at the state appellate court. A case to hear damages the brewery is alleging is scheduled in 2023.

Since the news of the sale to the church broke in January, weekly Sunday protests have taken place. Groups are concerned a church owning the property would change the culture of the Tower District.

At times, counter protesters and third-party protesters — demonstrating against other issues — have led to tense situations.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP Pick in 2000, Dead at 82

DON'T MISS

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

DON'T MISS

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

DON'T MISS

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld, Smittcamp Debate the Salary of Valley Children’s CEO

DON'T MISS

CA’s Liberal Government Has a Long History of Caving to Special Interests

DON'T MISS

Corrupt Process? Bullard, Edison Parents Blast Handling of Superintendent Search

DON'T MISS

Police Had About 90 Seconds to Stop Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Fell. 6 Workers Are Feared Dead

DON'T MISS

NBC Has Cut Ties With Former RNC Head Ronna McDaniel After Employee Objections, Some on the Air

No data was found
David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

12 hours ago

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

12 hours ago

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

13 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

13 hours ago

Bredefeld, Smittcamp Debate the Salary of Valley Children’s CEO

13 hours ago

CA’s Liberal Government Has a Long History of Caving to Special Interests

13 hours ago

Corrupt Process? Bullard, Edison Parents Blast Handling of Superintendent Search

13 hours ago

Police Had About 90 Seconds to Stop Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Fell. 6 Workers Are Feared Dead

15 hours ago

NBC Has Cut Ties With Former RNC Head Ronna McDaniel After Employee Objections, Some on the Air

15 hours ago

Here Are Some Numbers That Will Help You Get Your March Madness Fix for the Sweet 16

15 hours ago

Ukrainian Navy Says a Third of Russian Warships in the Black Sea Have Been Destroyed or Disabled

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has sunk or disabled a third of all Russian warships in the Black Sea in just over two years of war, the navy spokes...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Ukrainian Navy Says a Third of Russian Warships in the Black Sea Have Been Destroyed or Disabled

Composite image of President Trump and Devin Nunes
10 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: How Going to Work for Trump Turned Devin Nunes Into a Millionaire

11 hours ago

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP Pick in 2000, Dead at 82

12 hours ago

Trump Criticizes Judge and His Daughter After Gag Order in Hush-Money Case

12 hours ago

CA Insurance Market ‘in Chaos,’ Says Former Insurance Commissioner. Can Lara Fix It?

13 hours ago

Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Sets a Record After Wall Streets Breaks Out of Its Lull

13 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnson Headed to Fresno on April 4

13 hours ago

Bredefeld, Smittcamp Debate the Salary of Valley Children’s CEO

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend