Former Cinemagic Site Gets First Look from St. Michael Planning Tonight

The buyer of the former Cinemagic Movie Theater building will be in front of the St. Michael Planning and Zoning Commission tonight to discuss, among other things, an increase in signage for the future retail location.

Commercial Realty Solutions, located in Buffalo, is representing the prospective buyer, and does not wish to divulge the building’s new tenant(s) at this time. But thehas already agreed to change the building to a retail site within its B-1 Zoning District.

In his report to the St. Michael Planning and Zoning Commission, Community Development Director outlined a few main bullet points.

First, the developer is looking to add signage to the site, something for which the board would have to grant an amendment. The former Cinemagic building already had signage variances, allowing the theater to put a marquis along the northeastern wall, facing Interstate 94.

Now, the retailer is hoping for a pylon mounted sign to draw attention from freeway traffic, along with signage on the building for prospective tenants.

Weigle also reports the building could see a large addition put in place on the east side, according to drawings and plans submitted by the applicant. One drawing shows a 55,000 sq. ft. addition to the east side, cutting into a former parking lot, but still providing plenty of distance between the retail building and the wetland to the east created by the Crow River.  The expansion could happen “now or in the future,” Weigle states in his report.

The existing Cinemagic building has a 66,000 sq. ft. footprint, so an addition would almost double that size.

Also, Weigle notes the building could house “two major tenants and possibly other smaller ones.”

What the P and Z board will have to discuss tonight is if it’s comfortable to pylon signage in front of the current building (and possible expansion) along with signage on the building, and what it’s vision is for the Interstate 94/Highway 241 interchange, which has already seen a boost in activity thanks to the opening of thestore last year.

Plans submitted to the P and Z are usually more detailed, but the buyer wants to get the project moving forward, Weigle said, while doing its due diligence during the purchasing period.  

Tonight’s St. Michael Planning and Zoning Commission will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Michael City Hall.