Candidate Q&A: The Rialto (VIDEOS)

In weeks leading up to the , Patch is asking our nine City Council candidates a series of questions significant to the community.

Today's question: Where do you stand on the redevelopment of the Rialto Theatre? Would you like to see its doors reopen? If so, what do you feel are the main obstacles in doing so?

To hear what each of the candidates had to say on the topic at the forum last week, click on the videos to your right. 

The renewed vibrancy of our downtown must include a renewal of the Rialto. Yes, I would like to see its doors open again. As a specialty play theater, and movie house, it could become a destination for many in our region, and beyond. Its current condition, the fact that its owners and operator don't seem to care about it, other than as a tax shelter, are major problems. These problems are not insurmountable if the owners and operators are approached properly. We need to bring in the right non-profit that will have an attractive plan for the owners so that they will have to say yes.

We need to save, restore, and revitalize the Rialto Theatre. I would like to see local private investors take over the Rialto Theatre and working in partnership with the City and South Pasadena Preservation Foundation. 

Yes, I enjoyed going to the movies in the Rialto Theatre, before it was closed. This will be a great asset to the city once it is revitalized.  Completion of the downtown revitalization project will put pressure on the owners and developers to invest in the Rialto and make it a part of the larger complex. City Council must create an economic development team to work with the Chamber of Commerce. Together we will be in a stronger position to bring the Rialto back to life. 

There is no one that is running for council—or who is on council now—that knows more about the Rialto than me. I know the owners, the operator who has a lease and runs the theatre now. I have been very familiar from the basement, ground up. I've worked on the plumbing for 30 to 40 years—inside the building. I've been places where no one else has been in that building. The building needs about $10 million worth of repair—minimum repair.

If the City is truly interested in getting someone involved in it—other than another City entity, because it would fail if it was city-involved—the city would need to build parking (which I proposed 20 years ago). Buy the land around it, which we've started to do. Let's put a parking lot in the back of those buildings on Fair Oaks. 

Who ever takes control of the Rialto will have to solve many high hurdles, purchase, restoration, occupancy and profitability. It will take more than just being sentimental and nostalgic to save this piece of history.

The Rialto needs to be redeveloped as a theatre and as an icon of South Pasadena. This is the front we show the world, and it is a sad front at this time. The main obstacles are funding, funding, funding, and vision. Once we have the money to repair it, we need to find uses that will succeed in today's entertainment world. In addition, we need to work with other arts in South Pasadena to create a comprehensive vision that does not compete overly much with itself.

I know that our community will be able to solve the problem of the Rialto, the iconic historical landmark of our City. There is much potential use for the Rialto as a large space or flexible smaller spaces. It can be an entertainment destination for our youth right here in town. The main obstacle is that the Jebbia Family Trust, owners,  will not do needed repairs nor agree to sale of the Rialto to someone who will. The cost of repairs, redesign, and build is more than the City can afford at this time. The City does have some Rialto specific funds that would be good seed money in a public-private scenario. 

I would love to see the Rialto restored. It is a complex situation, because we don't have control of either the property or the operating lease. There is an effort to work out an agreement to either acquire the building or the operating lease. Ownership is the main obstacle and resolving that is the first critical step.

The Rialto is an iconic structure and must be the crown jewel of any development project in the downtown area.

The Rialto redevelopment should be a part of, and the leading effort in, the downtown redevelopment. Some people want a development project first. I, on the other hand, prefer tackling the Rialto challenge immediately. We should welcome the opportunity to restore our city’s great treasure.  

First, I would propose forming a new negotiating team to begin discussions with the Rialto owners and lessors to explore all viable alternatives. I am confident that a satisfactory agreement will be reached if the discussions are handled with care and sensitivity. The city’s roll is to bring all parties together and to facilitate a productive outcome. 

South Pasadena’s community spirit and resiliency, the same traits that have helped us resist the threat of the 710 through our city, prove we have what it takes to see this through to a satisfactory conclusion.

I would also like to see the creation of a Rialto foundation where by public subscription we could create a center for movies, plays and the performing arts.

The Rialto was also brought up at the To hear what the candidates proposed they would do about the historic building, click on the series of videos above.