Work’s back on at Fresno’s oldest theater. This time ‘fully compliant with conditions’

The scaffolding went back up at Hardy’s Theater downtown earlier this month.

From Van Ness Avenue, a long black drape covers construction work continuing at Fresno’s oldest theater.

It’s a redo of work that’s been happening since 2021, when the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God purchased, and began gutting, the building — to the shock of both preservationists and the city.

The city cited the owner for several code violations, including construction without a permit.

That construction was then halted by a financial dispute between the church and its contractors, which left the building nearly abandoned, and with an unfinished roof during a particularly rainy winter.

“They went from being 70% built out, to having to repair all that work,” Fresno Councilmember Miguel Arias told The Bee.

Arias was one of several city officials who inspected the theater in April, but now: “They are essentially at square one,” he said.

The building’s interior is pretty bare bones, Arias said. Significant water damage caused mold on sheet rock that had been already installed, and whatever else that was being stored.

Contractors have pulled demolition permits to remove that material. The scaffolding is also permitted for the demolition, Arias said.

Hardy’s Theater renovation timeline

Construction permits will be needed for other work to start on the building, like lowering a set of windows to meet code standards, Arias said.

Fixing the damage caused by the storm and bringing the building back to use will cost around $4 million and take another two years, Arias said.

That’s equal to the original construction deadline, before the delays.

But it will be done under the eye of the city, which is working with the church and its new contractor be make sure it is compliant with the conditions and regulations inherent to a 100-plus-year-old building that is on the Local Register of Historic Resources.

The project now has the attention of the highest-ranking city officials, Arias said, including the city attorney, who was present when code enforcement toured the building in April.

While the Universal Church hasn’t responded to inquires from media in the past, it has been open to working with city officials, Arias said. He has a standing meeting to tour the facility every other month and posts pictures on his social media of what he sees.

“At this point, they are adhering to the conditions that are being placed on them,” Arias said. “We’ll continue to stay on top of it until its conclusion.”

Historic preservation projects

For Arias, the struggles at the theater and at other historic sites, such as the Fresno Water Tower, have given him a better understanding and appreciation of the time and effort it takes to make sure historic preservation is done correctly, especially when private owners and contractors are involved.

The Water Tower was expected to re-open as a visitors’ center and cafe sometime last year, but new work keeps being discovered, including needed fixes to the roof.

That takes time; three years so far.

“Ultimately, it will be a better project,” Arias said, when it is completed sometime next year.

This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 11:17 AM.