Crown Uptown to be torn down if capacity expansion not approved

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The owner of the Crown Uptown Theatre in College Hill, Mike Brown, said the building could soon meet the wrecking ball. He said the fate of the building depends on permission to increase capacity.

Brown said it is impossible to turn a profit without doubling the capacity of people allowed to attend an event at the theater. He said he understands the historical significance of the 1928 building and wants to preserve history.

He adds that if the Wichita City Council decides against the expansion, he will move to demolition the following day.

“Without the approval of the capacity increase, the building will go away,” said Brown.

Brown purchased the theater in 2023. He said the only way to make a profit was to increase its capacity, a move that was approved by the planning commission but voted down by the district’s advisory board. Now, the theater’s fate looms as Wichita’s City Council has the final say.

“For an artist that can sell 2,000 tickets, and we can only sell 850 for standing GA, they’re going to look out at a half-empty room, and they’re going to pass and go somewhere else,” said Brown.

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Brown hired architects who said the building could hold 2,000, and instead of tearing it down, he would rather save it.

“A little under a million dollars to increase bathrooms, upgrade the green rooms into that groovy 70s custom van, the balcony suites, all of these things I think Wichita would really enjoy. It’s going to be really unfortunate if we can’t get together as a developer and a community to save this building,” said Brown.

Those opposed believe the capacity increase will double the number of cars in the area during events. Also, people on that side of the fence fear it interferes with the final stage of the College Hill overlay discussion.

The debate is already grabbing attention.

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“I’ve got a lot of people reaching out to me. Before this interview, I was on the phone with four different people; there were a lot of opinions out there, trying to listen to everyone before trying to make a decision on where I’ll vote,” said District 1 Wichita City Councilmember Brandon Johnson.

Johnson said the decision to tear down the building is ultimately up to the owner as the property has no historical protection.

Wichita City Council members are voting on this issue on Dec. 3.

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