Escrow closes on Fresno’s deal to buy iconic Tower Theatre. Here’s what the city plans

A tug-o-war over more than a year and a half over the fate of an iconic Tower District landmark came to an end Friday, as escrow closed on the city of Fresno’s purchase of the Tower Theatre.

Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias confirmed to The Fresno Bee late Friday afternoon that “the city of Fresno has completed its purchase of Tower Theatre to preserve it as a public historic asset.”

The deal’s finalization was also confirmed by Councilmember Esmeralda Soria, whose council district includes the theater, and Mayor Jerry Dyer.

“The final documents were signed earlier today,” Dyer told The Bee in a text message Friday afternoon. But Dyer was not sure if the sale had yet been recorded with the Fresno County Recorder’s office.

The theater has been at the center of controversy since January 2021, when a proposed sale of the property by owner Laurence Abbate to the conservative Adventure Church came to light. The sale drew fire from residents of the surrounding Tower District, a pocket of hip trendiness and long known for its acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

“As a councilmember representing Fresno’s Tower District, I am pleased the city of Fresno has closed on the purchase of the historic Tower Theater,” Soria said in a prepared statement. “This iconic cultural asset must be preserved, and the City of Fresno is dedicated to doing just that.”

Built in 1939 at the northwest corner of Olive and Wishon avenues, the 700-plus-seat Tower Theatre was considered the city’s first suburban cinema outside of the downtown area. With its distinctive art-deco tower topped by a spiky gold orb, the theater quickly became the landmark of what would become the Tower District, now known for its nightlife, artsy community and progressive politics.

After the property’s $4.8 million sale to the church came to light, denizens of the Tower District expressed concern that the arrival of a conservative church and rezoning the property would dampen the area’s nightlife and culture. Dueling protests ensued featuring residents of the neighborhood and supporters of the church.

Tenants of the property, including Sequoia Brewing Co., also objected to the sale. The owners of Sequoia Brewing sought to block the sale, asserting that the deal was forged in violation of the restaurant/brewery’s right of first refusal if Abbate were to sell the property.

The Fresno City Council voted in April to purchase the Tower Theatre for $6.5 million, sparking a lawsuit by Adventure Church seeking to block that deal. Those efforts came to naught in June, when a Fresno County Superior Court judge denied church’s motion to halt the sale. That ruling was upheld the following week by the state’s Fifth District Court of Appeal.

Soria and Arias, whose district includes part of the Tower District and sits across Olive Avenue from the theater, said the city plans to seek and review proposals from would-be operators of the property. Abbate, the theater’s former owner, will continue to serve as the site’s operator until that selection process is completed.

Over the next month, the city will complete safety inspections and make any needed repairs to the property. The city also plans to upgrade the parking lot, including updating its handicap-compliant parking spaces.

No performances will take place until the expected repairs are done.

In the meantime, the councilmembers said a new policy is being crafted “so that all members of the community and groups have equal access to the Theatre and can reserve it on days that (it) is not already booked or scheduled for maintenance.” Abbate, as the interim operator, will handle new bookings “based on the city’s use policy for equal access” to the theater.

“I want to thank our Tower District neighbors, historic preservationist and the arts and culture advocates for championing the protection of our historic Tower Theatre and Tower District.,” Arias said. “It is now time to focus on our collective energy and return arts and cultural events to our now publicly owned historic venue.”