posted 04-02-2010 11:18 AM                       

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by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.)

Bill Warren wants to build an IMAX theatre in West Wichita. Tuesday his company American Luxury Cinemas will ask the Wichita City Council for $16 million in industrial revenue bonds and property tax abatement to help build the theatre.

Warren plans to add the IMAX to his theatre at 21st and Tyler. The plan calls for an additional 16,550 square feet for the IMAX theatre as well as renovating the existing theatre. If it happens, the company says it would be the largest commercial digital IMAX with 600 seats. The average IMAX screen is 70 feet wide, this one would be 90 feet wide.

If the city council approves issuing the bonds,Warren and his investors would be responsible for paying back the loan. The IRB's mean the city takes ownership of the property and leases it back to the company. The lease payments will pay off the bonds. Once the bonds are finished, American Luxury Cinemas will take ownership again.

The company estimates the IMAX theatre would attract 300,000 people each year. It says that's a 35% increase in attendance. It also plans to add 25 jobs once the theatre opens.

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posted 04-02-2010 11:48 AM                       

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Tuesday his company American Luxury Cinemas will ask the Wichita City Council for $16 million in industrial revenue bonds and property tax abatement to help build the theatre.

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posted 04-06-2010 03:16 PM                       

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by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.)

Bill Warren will build an IMAX theatre in West Wichita. The Wichita City Council approved $16 million in industrial revenue bonds and property tax abatement for the theatre Tuesday.

The IMAX will be built onto the existing theatre at 21st and Tyler. Warren says it will be the largest commercial digital IMAX with 600 seats. The average IMAX screen is 70 feet wide, this one would be 90 feet wide. The renovations include an additional 16,550 square feet for the IMAX theatre as well as renovating the existing theatre.

By approving the bonds, the city takes ownership of the property and leases it back to Warren for ten years. Over those ten years, Warren will make the bond payments. The city is not liable for that money. However, the city also gave Warren property tax abatement on the new construction. The theatre will continue paying property taxes on the existing theatre.

Some people spoke out against giving the incentives to the project. Mayor Carl Brewer responded saying without incentives the city would lose the project to another community. He says incentives are the best way to stay competitive.

Warren agreed, saying he could have taken his project to places like New York City and Los Angeles. He says they would have given him better incentives, but he wanted to keep the project in Wichita. However without the help from the city he says they would not have been able to make the numbers work.

Warren says he's proud and excited to bring this kind of entertainment to Wichita. He says it will be a major tourist attraction. He described it as one big, bad theatre. Construction will begin in about six weeks. He says the theatre will be open in mid December. The first movie they'll show on IMAX is the movie Tron Legacy.

The company estimates the IMAX theatre would attract 300,000 people each year. It says that's a 35% increase in attendance. It also plans to add 25 jobs once the theatre opens.

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posted 04-12-2010 06:13 PM                       

quote: Robert E. Allen

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The Movies 6 was last operated by Coming Attractions Theatres of Ashland, Oregon (www.catheatres.com).

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posted 04-13-2010 02:58 AM                       

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Bollywood films! [scream]

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