Overland Park Landmark Headed to Independence?

[gblowfish]

This is very cool. I worked with a lady who was a maid at the Glenwood Manor back in the 1960s. The Glenwood Theater sign was a landmark on Metcalf for years. Now instead of throwing it on the scrap heap, it may be moved to MY neighborhood in Independence, as the gateway to the Englewood Arts District. This would be a giant win-win, and would really be a cool addition to the Englewood district. Your thoughts?

Story is here:
http://www.examiner.net/article/20150127/NEWS/150129026

The owner of both the Mugs Up Diner and Mugs Up Drive in Independence is planning a fundraiser to move and retrofit the iconic Glenwood Arts Theatre sign located in Overland Park, Kansas, to the Englewood Station Arts District.

Ann Kendall-Hinojosa said she is spearheading a public fundraising campaign through either websites GoFundMe or Kickstarter sometime soon to help move the retro-style Glenwood Arts sign to be placed on the median at Winner Road and Sterling Avenue in the Englewood district, along with modifying the letters on it to spell “Englewood Theatre.”

“It would be a shame to have such a monumental sign with historical significance in the scrap yard,” she said. “‘Glenwood’ could be changed to ‘Englewood,’ with the letter ‘G’ at the top changed to ‘E,’ and ‘Fine Arts Theatre’ changed to ‘Englewood Arts District.’”

The Glenwood Arts Theatre closed its doors this past Sunday due to the possible redevelopment of the Metcalf South Shopping Center in Overland Park, where the theater was attached. The shopping center closed in September 2014, with the exception of Glenwood Arts and an adjacent Sears department store.

Hinojosa said Glenwood Arts co-owner and Englewood Theatre owner Wade Williams would hate to see the well-known sign, which currently stands along 95th Street in Overland Park, torn down due to the center’s redevelopment or razing. He wants to salvage it by relocating it to Independence in order to advertise the old and dormant Englewood Theatre that he intends to sell and hopes will be re-opened as early as this spring or summer, as well as promoting the burgeoning arts district, she added.

The now-closed theater was also owned by the Fine Arts Group, a Kansas City area-based chain of art houses. Mike Fairleigh of Kansas commented on The Examiner’s Facebook page that Brian Mossman, co-owner of the Fine Arts Group, said it’s not making the move.

The amount needed to be raised for both the move and retrofitting of the sign to Independence have yet to be determined, Hinojosa said. She and Williams are waiting on figures from different sign companies.

Williams could not be reached for comment on the future of The Englewood Theatre. However, some issues need to be taken care of before it can re-open. According to a May 2014 post in KC Confidential, a blog maintained by former Kansas City Star writer Hearne Christopher, Williams wrote the Englewood Theatre’s basement flooded due to a water line leak in January 2014, which caused its air conditioners and the electric service feeding the venue to shorten out. He added the theater would have opened by now if not for that flood, but Hinojosa said renovations and repairs are now underway.

[DaveNull]

Overland Park's trash is Independence's treasure.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by DaveNull

Overland Park's trash is Independence's treasure.

They can use it as a landmark indicating where to buy meth.

[Discuss Thrower]

What moves to Independence usually winds up as defaced with bad fan paintings of Chiefs' logos, Natty Light and BBQ sauce stains and the topic of discussion that starts fights in Lot A.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by wazu

They can use it as a landmark indicating where to buy meth.

Sure, why not?