State review slowed permit for fixes at former Cinerama

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 20, 2012

~~Question: The old Cinerama Theater building on South King Street, now occupied by O'Reilly Auto Parts, has had metal scaffolding 5 to 6 feet high on the public sidewalk for at least a year. This scaffolding has been an obstruction and a danger for pedestrians. The old theater marquee is falling apart and a danger to someone walking under it. Recently a homeless person has been sleeping under the marquee. Now a fence has been put up so the person lies on the sidewalk or under the scaffolding. It appears that no work is being done to repair the building. Is there a city agency that has to issue a permit to set up a structure like this on public sidewalks, and is there is a time limit?
Answer: We got an answer this week. An emergency demolition permit to remove the entire "canopy" that overhangs the sidewalk at 1550 S. King St. was issued April 3 "for safety of the public," the city said.
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Question: The old Cinerama Theater building on South King Street, now occupied by O'Reilly Auto Parts, has had metal scaffolding 5 to 6 feet high on the public sidewalk for at least a year. This scaffolding has been an obstruction and a danger for pedestrians. The old theater marquee is falling apart and a danger to someone walking under it. Recently a homeless person has been sleeping under the marquee. Now a fence has been put up so the person lies on the sidewalk or under the scaffolding. It appears that no work is being done to repair the building. Is there a city agency that has to issue a permit to set up a structure like this on public sidewalks, and is there is a time limit?

Answer: We got an answer this week. An emergency demolition permit to remove the entire "canopy" that overhangs the sidewalk at 1550 S. King St. was issued April 3 "for safety of the public," the city said. Login for more...