PUBLISHED ON March 26, 2008
Yakima Herald-Republic
Section: Main/Home Front
By CHRIS BRISTOL YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
The Yakima City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to begin the process of closing Third Street in front of the Capitol Theatre for the creation of a pedestrian plaza.
Sure to rank as a major downtown landmark, the proposed plaza is a key component in the historic theater's ambitious $15 million expansion plan, which also includes construction of two new buildings and the demolition of a third.
The council's move, which elicited little in the way of discussion, does not constitute a final decision. The process of vacating a public street could take weeks and requires at least two public hearings.
A final decision must be approved by the council, perhaps as soon as May.
Supporters see an expanded Capitol and plaza as a new centerpiece for the downtown, where the 2003 closure of the Yakima Mall left a void that has yet to be filled.
The first step is construction of a new staging facility at the rear of the theater, which theater officials say is a necessity if they are to continue attracting top-notch Broadway shows.
The second step would be demolishing the 1902 Wilson Building, which the theater bought last year and plans to replace with a new multipurpose pavilion. Construction is not expected to begin until 2010 at the earliest.
Located at the southeast corner of Yakima Avenue and Third Street, the Wilson is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Yakima. Theater officials, however, say the building is of little historic value and is in such poor condition that it can't be reasonably salvaged.
To date no visible opposition to the fate of the Wilson has emerged. The theater owns the property and can tear it down if it wants to, although doing so would prove problematic without the council's tacit blessing. The city owns the theater.
A 500-seat "Black Box" theater in the staging facility and a 99-seat jazz venue in the pavilion are also part of the plan. Theater officials say more intimate venues are necessary to properly stage smaller shows, particularly musical events.
The third and final step is the pedestrian plaza, which would require closing Third Street to vehicular traffic at Yakima Avenue.
During a presentation Tuesday at the theater, the council agreed to consider closing the street at the request of the theater board and theater CEO Steve Caffery.
Featuring a large water fountain and shade trees, the plaza is envisioned as an inviting courtyard of sorts to the Capitol as well as a year-round community gathering place.
Much of the funding for the first two phases of the project, about $11 million, is already in place and is a mix of public and private investment.
The city's contribution comes mainly in the form of a $7 million bond that will be paid off with proceeds from a sales tax credit the city began collecting in January.
The proceeds are not a new tax. The state Legislature authorized the city to divert a small portion of the existing 8.2 percent sales tax to underwrite the Capitol expansion project.
Funding for the third phase of the project, closing Third Street and remaking it into a plaza, has not been secured yet. City officials estimate it will cost $4 million.
The public's reaction to the proposed closure of Third Street also remains an unknown. Caffery, the theater's CEO, said several neighbors, including the federal courthouse, are supportive.
Somewhat on the fence is the Olive Garden restaurant, said Caffery, who predicted the popular restaurant would eventually embrace the idea for the ambiance it would bring to outdoor dining.
"It's just a win for everbody" he said.
