Can anything be done to improve the appearance and safety of the old theater building in downtown Grand Marais?
That’s what City Councilor Jan Sivertson wanted to know April 28, when she posed the question to the city’s attorney, Chris Hood. Sivertson, whose family owns the art gallery adjacent to the former theater on Wisconsin Street, said she has been approached by other business owners concerned about the building’s run-down condition. “We could decide to do something, or not. But it’s important to downtown business owners that we at least do something to make it safe,” Sivertson said.
The councilor recalled that several years ago, a big chunk of concrete fell off the top of the twostory building, damaging a vehicle. Although the building was repaired soon after that incident, Sivertson said it’s possible something similar could happen again.
She also said there are animals living in the building, which creates another potential safety hazard. The building consists of the 1950s-era theater and an abandoned apartment on the upper story.
To make matters worse, it was noted that the Grand Marais Playhouse plans to mark its 40th anniversary by placing posters on the outside walls of the theater building this summer to advertise its upcoming shows. That will call even more attention to the run-down state of the structure, councilors said.
City Attorney Chris Hood said there are some options. First, he said, the city needs to determine if the building is in fact a safety hazard, or if it’s simply unsightly.
If there are cosmetic changes that could be made to rectify the public safety situation and the owner does not want to comply, Hood said the city can order the repairs after giving notice to the owner, and charge the cost to him. However, if there are structural repairs necessary to ensure safety—including demolition— the city will have to be more forceful.
“How aggressive do you want to be?” he asked.
Councilor Tim Kennedy said there are a few other run-down places in town, “and we’ve never taken action to do anything.” Kennedy pointed out that the matter is complicated by the fact that the city has no building code, and no enforcement officer. There’s not a whole lot the city can do, he said.
Mayor Sue Hakes agreed with other councilors that it would be a good idea to look into the city’s options, and asked Hood to discuss the matter with City Administrator Mike Roth (who did not attend the meeting due to illness) and come back with a recommendation.
Hood said he’d examine the City Code and ordinances, and report back at the next meeting.
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