Cityville at Cityplace

[AeroD]

AMC Loews Cityplace Going From 14 Screens to Zero Come Sunday
Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 03:02:46 PM

Justin Scott, a spokesperson for AMC Entertainment, tells Unfair Park today that the theater chain will be shuttering its Loews Cityplace 14 location on Sunday. When asked why Kansas City-based AMC Entertainment was closing the multiplex on Haskell Avenue, Scott told Unfair Park, "You know, Cityplace 14 was identified as a theater that no longer competes effectively in the marketplace. We're always upgrading, either by adding news screens or disposing of older ones, so other than that I don't have specific reasons. That's about it."

Scott doesn't know what will become of the 60,000-square foot theater, which is on the county tax rolls for about $8 million. The property is owned by something called Knights Stemmons Freeway LLC on Monticello Avenue, according to the Dallas County Appraisal District. Will update shortly. --Robert Wilonsky

[Kelley USA]

^I'm not sure if the site is big enough- but I'd love to see Target buy the property and build a SuperTarget across the street... I know they just spent some $$ to remodel the current one- but would still love to have a ST in the area.

[DalMac]

That place is a dump

[dfwcre8tive]

I noticed a few weeks ago that there was a zoning change notice out front. Not sure what it was for but I had a feeling the cinema would be leaving soon. They need to redevelop that whole area into a mixed use urban development to take better advantage of Cityplace Station. Urban big-box retail with apartments or offices above.

[Jack Flack]

I noticed a few weeks ago that there was a zoning change notice out front. Not sure what it was for but I had a feeling the cinema would be leaving soon. They need to redevelop that whole area into a mixed use urban development to take better advantage of Cityplace Station. Urban big-box retail with apartments or offices above.


You are on the right track. A zoning change application for this property came across my desk and if approved would make way for a large mixed-use developement. There is definitely some doin's a transpirin' on that property

[DallasMan]

^Probably a much better use for this property. I would love to see some mixed use on this site - Cityplace Dart access is really a great asset for residents.

Its no wonder this theatre is closing - I have not been to this theatre since the AMC at Northpark opened, and I am willing to bet that is the same story for a lot of people.

[Mephis Gooseberry]

Every time I went to the Cityplace theatre thugs in the audience would make asses of themselves and ruin the movie. Management and security wouldnt do anything about it. Had the same problem at Valley View. Northpark is just a better environment, they dont tolerate shit off the customers.

[msutton]

Too bad they charge almost Manhattan ticket prices...

[Rob]

Good riddance - the last time I went there it smelled like pee in the theater.

[tamtagon]

I wish ACS would do something 'Live large, Think Big' with their property.

[jsoto3]

West Village, Meet ... East Village?
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/01/west_village_meet_east_village.php

http://www.dallascityhall.com/meetings/plan_commission/Z078-112_122007.pdf

APPLICANT: Inland American Communities Acquisitions, LLC

OWNER: Knights on Stemmons Freeway, LLC

REPRESENTATIVE: Michael Coker Company, Inc.

REQUEST: An application to create a new subdistrict within Subdistrict E
of Planned Development District No. 305 for mixed uses.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this request is to allow for the construction of
a mixed use development that consists of commercial, office
and multifamily uses. The proposed development will
consist of approximately 700 dwelling units and have
approximately 90,000 square feet of ground retail and
commercial uses.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval, subject to a conceptual plan and
conditions

The applicant’s intention is to redevelop the site similar to the West Village
development that is located on west side of Central Expressway, on McKinney
Avenue, between Lemmon Avenue and Blackburn Street. The proposed
development will have an internal circulation to the various ground floor retail and
commercial uses. In addition, the proposed retail and commercial uses will be
oriented towards Haskell Avenue, with the multifamily component being oriented
internally within the development. The multifamily uses will wrap around a parking
structure that will be developed near Peak Street and Capitol Avenue.
The proposed mixed use development is anticipated to change the dynamics of the
East Mixed Use Zone by meeting the original intent and vision of Planned
Development District No. 305 in creating a pedestrian and transit-oriented
development that has an urban ambience. The West Mixed Uses zone, by
comparison, is achieving a mixed use development at transit appropriate densities
while the East Mixed Use Zone has been developed with single uses, large surface
parking areas and a few office and residential units.

[Tnekster]

West Village, Meet ... East Village?
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/01/west_village_meet_east_village.php

http://www.dallascityhall.com/meetings/plan_commission/Z078-112_122007.pdf


Curtain falls

When the $10 million Cityplace cinema opened in 1996, it was hailed as a "flagship for a new generation of high-tech theaters."

Sadly, it's now curtains for the multiscreen movie theater.

Broker Newt Walker recently has had the theater property on Haskell Avenue at Capitol for sale.

And now apartment developer Inland American Communities is seeking city approval to build a mixed-use development on the 10-acre tract.

Look for Inland American – which previously operated in the Dallas area as FirstWorthing – to build an apartment project with retail on the ground floor.

The company did a similar project on Motor Street near Maple Avenue.

Inland American also just broke ground for its huge Oak Park redevelopment off Lemmon Avenue near the Dallas North Tollway.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/sbrown/stories/DN-recol_04bus.ART0.State.Edition1.2aeb5a0.html

[dfwcre8tive]

That cinema is only 12 years old? It must have gone down hill fast. Was the other retail (Target, etc) built at the same time?

[Kelley USA]

I question how well a "West Village" type development will do here... I think it'll be tough to attract good quality retail and restaurants. I would almost rather them build on Hank Haney- but I know they're saving these spots for towers, hotels etc...

[DallasMan]

^Yeah, I think it might be a tougher sell on this location. But, if the project includes a lot of built-in residential units for more customers, it might be ok. I could easily see another Starbucks location here if it was on the corner and had freeway easy access, since the WV location is tucked away on McKinney.

Furthermore, it would be in this development's interest to increase pedestrian connectivity across 75 so that people would be tempted to walk from here to WV and back again.

I would imagine this spot will be successful though, especially once something is built on the Hank Haney location - it will feel less separated on "the other side" of 75 once the Hank Haney hole is filled in w/ something dense.

[tamtagon]

I question how well a "West Village" type development will do here... I think it'll be tough to attract good quality retail and restaurants. I would almost rather them build on Hank Haney- but I know they're saving these spots for towers, hotels etc...

Cityplace East will do as well or better than Cityplace West. Being across the highway, the target demographic will be a somewhat different group. By the time the "Cityplace East" redevelopment wave claims the expansive strip center and parking lot anchored by Target and whatever actually manifests from the Cityplace Urban Resort plan, the Haskell bridge will be modified for pedestrians. Mockingbird Station will be religated to the history books as the first TOD in Dallas, but when West is joined by East, Cityplace will unquestionablly lead the pack, even ahead of Park Lane.

(someone needs to convince ACS to enter a commodity swap with the Cityplace folks. ACS gives up some of the corporate campus real estate of old midrise buildings in exchange for all the materials of the Cityplace Twin Tower. The skyscraper is duplicated across Haskell instead of the highway, and completes the landmark introduction of the Peak-Haskell Corridor.)

[Kelley USA]

<--- I have always wondered if ACS has thoughts of building a new HDQ... They could consolidate everyone into 1 building...

[Mballar]

. . .it will feel less separated on "the other side" of 75 once the Hank Haney hole is filled in w/ something dense.

I say build an eastbound MATA extension from the intersection of McKinney and Blacburn, across Central, to this location. Then, later, we'll already be set up to extend this line down Haskell to Fair Park.

[DallasMan]

^Phenomenal idea!! While we're at it, we can extend the line to Knox Henderson... :)

[jsoto3]

I know it was just built a year or so ago, but I wish the developer could have bought out that prototypical Bank of America branch and replaced it with their mixed-use development. It's going to compromise the potential of the development to establish a strong presence at the corner of Haskell and Capitol (an important intersection at the center of the Cityplace East area). The parcel it is on is so small that it will be difficult to redevelop it in the future after it is surrounded by the new development.

[chiboi]

I moved back to this area (The Park Gates of Cityplace)on Cabell St because I was able to get a 1 bedroom plus den for 729.00 per month. They are planning a complete renovation of this property (starting right away) They have done a complete structural evaluation of the property and they are beginning foundation lifts on all the buildings except 2 and a complete exterior renovation followed up a complete interior renovation. It seems this entire area to the east of Central is going to explode. If you dirive around on Peak, Haskell, Live Oak, Ross, Washington you will see all kinds of amazing projects already up or going up, mainly condos. As for connectivity to WV, my partner and I walk acorss Central to the Magnolia or Manny's and it just fine now, though I expect they will improve this with the Cityplace project building out on the east side and this newly announced project by Inland.

[sheilock]

wow! i can't wait to see what capitol street looks like in 3 years...when this project rises, then spanning through fitzhugh (a couple of thousand new residents from United Dominion res and Trammell crow res projects), and on to Henderson (the shops at Henderson, Phoenix, and other upcomming projects). that's when the wheels hit the pavement, and we see everything filling in-between.
*that might be the track to take the MATA...up capitol to henderson, across to lowest greenville, then back down ross to downtown connecting the loop.

[smudoode]

wow! i can't wait to see what capitol street looks like in 3 years...when this project rises, then spanning through fitzhugh (a couple of thousand new residents from United Dominion res and Trammell crow res projects), and on to Henderson (the shops at Henderson, Phoenix, and other upcomming projects). that's when the wheels hit the pavement, and we see everything filling in-between.
*that might be the track to take the MATA...up capitol to henderson, across to lowest greenville, then back down ross to downtown connecting the loop.


That seems over done. Do we really want to spend so much money to get these ancient trolleys through these neighborboods? I would perfer something that can go a little faster than 15mph. we want people to park there cars. ancient trolleys don't compete with automobiles.

[SDORN]

This theater was built in 1995. It is now closed. It will be demolished. This this youngest building slated for demolition I have photographed. Apartmen and new retail are slated to go i here.

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/330/loews141es1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Rob]

Good riddance!

[mdg109]

I used to go here when most of my friends all lived in and around downtown right after college. When I used to go, there was always a crazy mix of people from SMU kids to East Dallas kids. It didn't matter. It did go down hill after AMC in North Park. Yeah, it was ugly, but I still liked it. I think the new development will suit the area better though.

[Rob]

I went there a few times when I first moved to Dallas, it was always filthy, smelled like urine, and populated with some incredibly scary delinquents. It got so bad my girlfriend and I decided to drive up to Valley View for movies (Northpark thankfully changed that).

[Tnekster]

I think there is already a thread on this.

[LongonBigD]

I appreciate that Loews took a chance on that location so early, but you knew it was in trouble when they put that 8' tall fence around the place (who exactly did that keep out anyway?). We stopped going shortly after that and haven't been back in years. I hate that there is not a mainstream theater closer to downtown (bring back the theater in the West End - sans the punks and thugs).

It has been my experience that once I have to start complaining to management about transient teenage movie hoppers or crying babies, its time to find a new theater. After Loews Cityplace lost our business, we actually drove out to Mesquite AMC30 for a while, but that too became a problem. We haven't noticed the same lack of moviegoer decorum (other than cell phones) at AMC NP, Magnolia, or Angelika. Of course, time will tell. Meanwhile, best of luck with the new mixed use development. If it is done well, perhaps another theater can come back and build on the success and demand that Loews showed exists on the east side.

[xen0blue]

the damn thing is practically brand new and their already tearing it down? what the hell? I thought it was a great theater...then again, I grew up in oak cliff.

[SDORN]

Yeah I know this one is one the youngest buildings slated for demo I have ever shot This opened dec 22, 1995 hopefully these tree will be replanted.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5836/pinetrees2rk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[SDORN]

These appear to be records stacked up for transport to storage or shredder. Hopeffully these record will be preserved, but most likely not.Many buildings record go in the trash or shredder, leaving the historian with not a complete history. Box office reciepts employee records and screening schedules will dissapear into oblvion leaving us to wonder.
Most won't care but some will. If you have a story share it with me.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7198/records1zl9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks for the post on the threads I hae so far enjoyed reading them.

[galore]

This was built in 1995? I watched a movie there once 7 years ago and if I remember correctly, the theater didn't even have stadium seating. Must have been one of the last theaters built without.
Also, the interior design is decidedly cold and dated. Gray/Black/White/Red. Odd choices.
I noticed that the owners didn't spend a lot on maintenance. For example did they ever change a burned out bulb on the electronic display next to 75? At the end, this display was barely readable... Very ghetto.

It's sister, the former Loews Keystone in Richardson suffered from similar problems (though this one has stadium seating). Wasn't it sold to the Regal group?

[Spjz]

Thou shalt not speak ill of Cityplace! Upon telling my wife that Cityplace was sold and closing she said, "about time!" More of my memories fall victim to the wrecking ball. The horror.

The brightside: now is the time to build a theater in DT or the Fair Park area.

[urbanite07]

There were lots of problems at Loews 14 with car break-ins, I recall some years back there was lots of bad press about cars getting stolen, windows getting shattered, and I think there were some youths arrested at the housing complexes near by with stolen goods.

This may strike a nerve with some, but is it a possibility that the city move those housing projects on I-75/Lemmon someplace else? Seems as if that is prime real estate these days, especially when you look across the freeway and see those $500K town homes in 'rock throwing distances'.

[Kelley USA]

I would love to see AMC or Cinemark have a small 5 or 6 screen theatre as part of the new mixed-use complex. I love going to the Magnolia, but it would be nice to have something like that showing mainstream movies...

[ericthegardener]

Wow, I haven't gone there recently but over the years I'm sure I have been there about 30 times or so and I never felt unsafe. Did it get particularly bad in the last couple of years?

My main complaint was the inordinate amount of movie-talkers there. It's bad everywhere these days (except the art houses) but it did seem worse there.

[palchik]

This may strike a nerve with some, but is it a possibility that the city move those housing projects on I-75/Lemmon someplace else?

75 is not an Interstate.

[Spjz]

I took a piss next to Don Hill in the Cityplace men's room. Ah the memories.

[freewaytincan]

75 is not an Interstate.

Isn't that the most frustrating thing when people do that?

[US75Guy]

Loew's gets credit for trying, but they did it all wrong. It was sitting alone in a sea of parking, no restaurants or other places to make it a night destination. This meant no pedestrian activity, which encouraged the usual bums to congregate.

It was made for suburban family movie nights......only it wasnt in the suburbs.

Are we sure this want built in 1985 rather than '95? It just smells of the 80's........probably the last time the theatre seats were recovered.

[SDORN]

Got the information from Cinematours.com.

[mjblazin]

You are asking a lot out of theater company if you expect them to bring in restaurants and other stores.
I've gone there often and I don't remember any homeless. I almost never see homeless on real private property.
Its problem was that it did become a night destination: for people 15-20 that want to hang out, and not necessarily cause trouble. Every entertainment/retail site in downtown that offers low access costs (i.e., don't need to spend $25 plus for concert/game/dinner/etc.) and is of any size will have the same experience.

[galore]

75 is not an Interstate.

It is in Atlanta.

[Kelley USA]

I remember a story about this place a few years back, where kids would go into a movie, crawl on the floor and steal purses...

[mdg109]

They should have a theater in downtown. But I'm sure the riff raff would all find it. I guess they could charge higher prices for tickets and show indie and foriegn films like Angelika and Magnolia. I'd love to see the thugs watching a foreign film with subtitles.

[US75Guy]

You are asking a lot out of theater company if you expect them to bring in restaurants and other stores.
I've gone there often and I don't remember any homeless. I almost never see homeless on real private property.
Its problem was that it did become a night destination: for people 15-20 that want to hang out, and not necessarily cause trouble. Every entertainment/retail site in downtown that offers low access costs (i.e., don't need to spend $25 plus for concert/game/dinner/etc.) and is of any size will have the same experience.

I should have been more clear:

I didnt expect Loew's to go into the real estate development biz, but knowing what we know now about urban development, it would have been smart for them to partner with the appropriate folk to be part of a multi-purpose development rather than a stand-alone site.

Also, my definition of "bums" is not limited to homeless. It includes loiterers with neither business nor good intentions. The same loiterers would hang anywhere (Allen, Frisco, Grapevine) if there is a lack of security and/or pedestrian activity. This site fostered that, set apart as it was.

[gc]

I hate to see this place go....have seen many movies there. Regardless, I am hopeful that something good will come out of this change. Perhaps Loews will take another look-see at a closer to downtown location....this place was always packed when I was there and it seems that DTD could support a theater as long as the expectations are on target.

[Geaux Tigers]

It is in Atlanta.

This is Dallas. You got off at the wrong airport.

[xen0blue]

The brightside: now is the time to build a theater in DT or the Fair Park area.

never thought about this but you are absolutely right, my friend, this will make downtown more appealing to developers for a movie theater