Tampa Film Fan

what’s up with wasserman?

August 31, 2006 at 12:38 pm | In Movie Theaters, Movies, Tampa Bay Area |

For those of you just tuning in, here’s a recap:

*January 31, 2006: The St. Pete Times reports that Wasserman Vornado now owns 75% of Hyde Park Village and plans many changes, including figuring out “how to build an 11-story tower on the site of the dated seven-screen movie theater.” Article posted on Wasserman website.

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*February 3, 2006: An article in the St. Pete Times about David Wasserman’s plans states “He acknowledges that the theater, a popular draw for locals, will have to go.” Article posted on Wasserman website.

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*March 22, 2006: A Weekly Planet article states “No one’s talking much about this yet, but published reports have revealed that the gazillion-unit condo project planned for Old Hyde Park will straddle the exact spot where Sunrise now stands.”

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*April 7, 2006: An article in the St. Pete Times includes the quote “…the theater doesn’t appear on the retail center’s $100-million improvement plan.”

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*April 10, 2006: I email David Wasserman the following:

Dear Mr. Wasserman,

I’m writing to ask you to reconsider putting condos in the space currently occupied by Sunrise Cinemas in Old Hyde Park Village in Tampa, Florida. Sunrise is the only multi-screen theater in the Tampa Bay area that offers independent and art-house films. That theater is a great supporter of local film festivals as is an important part of the local community. Furthermore, having a movie theater in that shopping district is beneficial. People very often make a day of shopping, eating out, and going to the movies at Sunrise Cinemas.

Sunrise Cinemas is much beloved by the local film community, and rightly so. Please reconsider your plan to remove Sunrise from Old Hyde Park Village.

Thank you,

Lisa Ciurro

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*April 13, 2006: I write about Sunrise Cinemas here on this blog and mention the above two articles.

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*April 19, 2006: I post part of Wasserman’s email response here on this blog.

I didn’t post the entire email because I thought it was nasty and unprofessional, and I didn’t want to post such things about Sunrise, even if those words weren’t mine. Since today is Sunrise Cinemas’ last day, I guess it doesn’t matter much anymore. Here’s the email response I received from David Wasserman on April 11 in its entirety:

Hi. Sorry but I don’t own and operate the theater. They are failing as a business and its not my option. I am going to do a 150 seat 2 screen community theater that I hope to have the ‘tampa theater’ run and program. Good?

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*April 26, 2006: An article on Tampa Bay’s 10’s website includes this quote “The latest project being talked about is the idea of tearing down the Sunrise Cinemas in Old Hyde Park Village. “

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*August 18, 2006: The Tampa Tribune reports that Sunrise Cinemas has announced the closing of its Hyde Park Village on August 31 and states “…Wasserman has said in the past that it plans to replace the buildings housing Sunrise Cinemas and Brooks Brothers with condo towers.”

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*August 18, 2006: I post here on this blog about Sunrise closing. Someone named Edwin posts a comment letting me know that he’s started a website called www.savethesunrise.com. Over the next several days, I add suggestions and email addresses to his website.

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Now, on to the new stuff:

*August 28, 2006: Someone in the local community forwarded me the email response they received from David Wasserman. I’m posting it here with permission, with the sender’s name omitted, as requested:

Sender’s email to David Wasserman August 27:

Mr. Wasserman,

I have just recently moved to the South Tampa area and live just blocks from Hyde Park. I decided to move to this area of Tampa for the community and cultural aspects. My favorite attraction to this area is the Sunrise Cinema, which is a beautiful, comfortable theater, that shows independent and foreign films, which can not be found anywhere else in the city. I believe people, like myself move to this area, because of these special and unique venues.

It would be a great tragedy to lose a gem in this area for the sake of more condominiums. I am not against development, however, tearing down the reason(s) that draw people to an area for the sake of more living space, defeats the propose. No one will want to live in this area when the treasures, such as the Sunrise Theatre, are torn down. Please reconsider your plan for the new development in Hyde Park. I am sure that a solution can be reached m to allow the development of new condos while keeping culture of Hyde Park alive.

Sincerely,

(name omitted by Tampa Film Fan)

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Here’s Wasserman’s email response to this person on August 28:

Thanks for the note. Sunrise leaving is unfortunate and has absolutely nothing to do with the redevelopment of the shopping center. They will not be replaced by housing but rather by another user. It is always tough for us to lose a tenant. We hope to find a way to find a new dynamic user who will be successful in the project and be a positive impct on the community

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*August 28, 2006: I email David Wasserman and others at Wasserman Vornado the following:

To Whom It May Concern:

It has been in the local news for several months that Sunrise Cinemas isn’t part of Wasserman Vornado’s plans for the revamped Hyde Park Village, but building condos in that location is. Please don’t do this. Sunrise Cinemas is vital to the Village and to the Tampa Bay area, both economically and culturally. This theater has been successful and is beloved by the community. Because of your plans, they are closing the theater on August 31. Don’t force them out. Let Sunrise Cinemas stay and be part of your revised Hyde Park Village. Local filmgoers, the community and other stores in the Village will thank you for it.

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Here’s Wasserman’s email response to me:

The redevelopment of hyde park village and sunrise leaving are not connected in any way. In fact that space wil be refilled with another tenant. Sorry for the miinformation

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So, I wrote him back:

Thank you for your response. Why did you email me in April to say that Sunrise is failing as a business and that you are going to establish a 150-seat theater that you hope will be run by the Tampa Theatre? Why have you not objected to all the news stories by local media over the last six months that link the closing of Sunrise Cinemas and your redevelopment plan?

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To which he replied:

It doesn’t sell newspapers and it just isn’t logical if someone looked at our plans to see that retail is being replaced + some

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Huh? First of all, I don’t really understand what the last part of his last email to me means. What’s he talking about?

Second of all, the man should really take the time to spell-check his emails before sending them.

Third, he didn’t answer my question about why he told me months ago that Sunrise is failing as a business. If that’s true (which I don’t believe is the case), what does it matter as long as Sunrise is paying the rent on time? If it’s not true, then it’s very unprofessional of Wasserman to say such things to people.

Fourth, how can Wasserman expect anyone to believe that Sunrise Cinemas’ leaving Hyde Park is absolutely unrelated to his redevelopment plan — the plan that’s been referenced by the local media for months? Is he saying that he’s been misquoted by all local media all this time? That they’ve made up that part of their articles? That they are victims of a mass hallucination? Or is he now trying to backtrack on his original plan based on the response from the local community?

I think we all want to know (I certainly do): What’s up with Wasserman?