Center Theater structure is in bad condition

Franklin’s old Center Theater is in an extreme state of deterioration and the most that might be salvaged could be the façade area except at great cost to the city.
Reid Miller, Miller Engineers & Associates, told the Franklin City Council Tuesday that after another walk-through of the old movie theater as requested by Mayor Raymond Harris conditions were severe.
Miller said the balcony area has structural issues and reaming steel in the structure has severe rust.
The theater shares a common wall with an adjacent building and water intrusion has been an ongoing issue for years, Miller said. The roof is virtually gone.
Miller said he consulted with architect Carl Blum of Morgan City, who then contacted a contractor regarding possible demolition or shoring up the structure.
The building is about 4,400 square feet, and the contractor estimated $10 a square foot for demolition, not including hazardous materials handling and disposal.
Shoring up the façade would cost $35,000 to $40,000, Miller said the contractor estimated. Steel material incorporated into the façade will have to be removed and restored, meaning a dismantling of the structure, and will probably cost more than the estimate.
Any strengthening of the structure must be done with care in terms of vibrations affecting the adjacent buildings.
It’s still unclear where the water intrusion originates, Miller said.
“No matter what’s done with the building, that common wall has to be waterproofed,” Miller said. He added that on the other side, in an alley, mortar is falling away and the bricks are flaking.
“There’s areas in that building we can’t get to,” he said. “We can’t get on the balcony, so we’re not really sure what’s going on up there...you can see old structural elements of the theater just hanging.”
“Our concern has always been public safety,” Councilman Eugene Foulcard.
Councilman Dale Rogers said saving even just the façade may be more costly than removing and duplicating it with new construction.
The council took no action Tuesday.
Also during the meeting Utilities Director Bernard Daniels said the city received complaints in the Mary Lee Street area.
Daniels said sewer backup was reported, and city crews found that there are two undersized manholes in the neighborhood. New manholes were obtained and will be installed beginning today.
There was also a large amount of grease in the lines, Daniels said, which hardened up and caused a blockage. He asked residents to dispose of cooking grease some place other than the sewer system.
Fire Chief Chuck Bourgeois reported that the department received a $146,000 grant recently to windproof the fire station. He said the work has begun, including installation of hurricane clips to the structure to provide wind protection. Some doors have been replaced and others are in process. Windows have been given protection against winds up to 150 mph.
The work should be done in about a month, Bourgeois said.
Also, the fire department has moved its radio repeater, amplifier and antenna from the Glencoe area to the St. Mary Parish Courthouse roof.
Bourgeois said the tower lease in Glencoe was about $250 a month but the price was increased by the owners to $1,000 a month, prompting the move.
In other business Tuesday:
—Resolutions were approved setting the time and date of council meetings; lifting the alcohol open container law for the Tail-Gator Food Fest and Battle of the Paddles on Jan. 31, no glass containers allowed; authorizing the mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the parish for a repeater, amplifier and antennae on the courthouse; and an agreement with the St. Mary Parish Communications District.
The council will also be asked to proclaim Feb. 17 the Mardi Gras holiday, and lift the open alcohol container law from one hour before to one hour after the parade, no glass containers allowed.