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Larcom most likely to remain a theater

BEVERLY — The Larcom Theatre is still up for sale, but possibly not for much longer.
Since one of the city’s two historic Vaudeville Theaters was put on the market about a month ago, it’s garnered a lot of interest, according to real estate agent Kenneth Leva, vice president of the Carucci Group, which specializes in high-end residential and commercial property with Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Boston.
The property has been shown to about 15 different groups in the last few weeks, Leva said, and one has indicated it plans to make an offer. Additional offers are possible, he added.
It’s a new beginning for the nearly century-old, 560-seat theater, which has been owned since 1984 by Le Grand David magic company. The company also owned the Cabot, Beverly’s other historic theater, before it was sold and turned into a nonprofit performing arts center in 2014.
But anyone who’s concerned about the Larcom changing into something else — such as condominiums — should know that roughly 90 percent of interested parties want to keep it as is.
The lack of on-site parking makes creating housing there less attractive, Leva explained.
“The best use is what it’s for,” he said.
While various groups take a look at the theater, which is listed at $699,900, Mayor Michael Cahill has said he’s been encouraging potential buyers to keep the Larcom a theater, noting that he’s talked with the Massachusetts Cultural Council leadership about what can be done.
There may be funding for the buyer to help with restoration, he said, if the new owners decided to set the theater up as a nonprofit, like the Cabot’s new owners did.
The mayor said he walked through the Larcom recently to get an idea of its assets as well as needed improvements. Keeping it as a theater, he said, is key.
“The Larcom is incredibly important to our downtown,” he said, adding that not many vaudeville theaters still exist. In Beverly, there are two within a block of each other.
The Larcom is within the Beverly Arts District, recognized by the Massachusetts Cultural Council last year.
Built in 1912, the Larcom is older than the Cabot, but not as well-known; it’s tucked away on Wallis Street, a one-way off of Cabot Street.
“It’s in really excellent condition,” Leva said.
Despite some modern upgrades on the inside, including a new sound system, lighting equipment, a retractable movie screen and a digital projector, the theater has retained its classic features. These include the horseshoe-shaped balcony, silk wall coverings and pressed-tin ceilings.
Read the entire Salem News Article here


This post first appeared on North Shore Chamber Economic Development, please read the originial post: here

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Larcom most likely to remain a theater

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