New Westmont article in The Retrospect

In this week’s edition of The Retrospect, there’s a story on the front page that talks about the recent work on the marquee and sidewalks, as well as a possible future path for theatre restoration. To read the article click on the image below.

NCW meeting this week

The Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont (NCW) is meeting this Thursday to discuss the next steps in their process of forming a non-profit group (Friends of the Westmont Theatre) to be the financial arm for the theater’s restoration and, if restored, would oversee the day-to-day operations and theatre programming.

This meeting was originally set for the Rorher Library, but the libraries meeting rooms are booked. So the meeting will now taking place at a private residency in Haddon Township. If you’re interested in attending this meeting, please email the group and you’ll be given the address for the meeting, which is at 7pm this Thursday.

Haddon Twp replacing theatre sidewalk

A few years back the front sidewalk bilco door, which leads to one of the theatre’s basements, began to cave in. The concrete around the door started breaking away and water, dirt, trash and probably rodents were able to get in more easily. Today the township removed the damaged section of the sidewalk and tamped down the dirt in preparation for pouring new concrete later this week.

Westmont Theatre sidewalk

Cleaned up sidewalk ready for new concrete

Next NCW Meeting

The next NCW meeting will be held on Thursday October 22nd at the Rohrer Library. The meeting is at 7pm and the main agenda item is formation of the Friends of the Westmont Theatre (FOTW), a non-profit group that will be the financial arm for the theatre’s potential restoration and, if restored, responsible for the day-to-day operations and programming for the theatre.

Anyone with an interest in joining either group is encourage to come out on the 22nd to learn more…

Day three of the Westmont Marquee

On Friday the construction company removed the roof top on the marquee. Now you can look straight up and see the 2n story windows. More info and photos to follow…

Marquee without the roof

2nd story windows seen through the marquee

Day two of the Westmont Marquee

Day 2 continues with the complete removal of the lower ceiling and a portion of the roof. More will follow….

Westmont Marquee with removed lower ceiling

The marquee opened up

NCW proceeding with non-profit group

The second meeting with the Mayor went well. Several positive steps are in motion now and one of them is that the NCW (Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont) is moving forward with the formation of the non-profit group called The Friends of the Westmont Theatre (FOTW). This new group will be the financial arm for the restoration of the theatre, and once restored, the group responsible for its day-to-day operations and programming. The NCW will remain as the main advocacy group for its preservation and restoration. If anyone has an interest in joining either the NCW or TFOW, please send us an email.

Much more information to follow in the coming weeks… Stay tuned!

Follow up meeting with Mayor

The meeting with the Mayor went well last Thursday. Topics that were discussed included restoration costs and parking. The follow up meeting scheduled for this week is to further discuss cost restoration, parking and theatre operation (day-to-day), and to create an action plan.

More info to follow…

Meeting with the Mayor

The NCW meeting last Wednesday went very well. The group met with Paul Lazar from the Gibraltar Construction Corporation. Mr. Lazar presented a cost estimate report that explained what needs to be repaied or replaced in order to restore the Westmont Theatre as a film and performing arts venue.

Tomorrow (Thursday Sept. 17th) seven members from the NCW are meeting with Mayor Teague to discuss the cost estimate. The outcome of that meeting will help to gauge if this restoration process can proceed and if the FOWT (Friends of the Westmont Theatre – an offshot of the NCW) group will form as a non-profit group to support the theatre.

Stay tuned… more “coming attractions” to follow shortly…

End of summer…

As the summer season draws to a close the Westmont Theatre continues to stand tried and true on Haddon Ave. Although the last few weeks have been rather quiet, the NCW has been moving forward with the early phases of developing a non-profit group.  The next meeting is scheduled for early September. Once the date/time is set we’ll post that info here.

We encourage anyone with an interest in the Westmont (or the NCW) to consider attending the September meeting.