Council decided to go with a full-size replica of the letter ‘P’ from the old Paramount Theatre sign that will act as a wayfinder for downtown parking.
There were two options for council to consider ahead of the Tuesday (March 5) meeting. One was to refurbish the existing Paramount sign for $80,000, and the second option was to create a heritage replica for $40,000 that would go in the breezeway off Yale Road.
The dismantled, iconic sign, with its art deco influences, have been in storage since the Paramount Theatre was demolished in 2013.
But going with the replica option was recommended by staff based on an inspection and report from a sign contractor with experience in heritage projects.
With the replica option, the plan is to mount the ‘P’ on a post in the public breezeway, to serve a wayfinder for parking through the breezeway linking parking between Yale Road and Victoria Avenue.
Council heard that the challenging part about trying to use part of the historic sign was the possibility that it contains lead paint, and the need for testing and abatement by a qualified specialist, thereby increasing the refurbishing price.
”The memo from the sign contractor recommended Option 2 as preferred due to the potential of leachable lead paint needing to be removed, the uncertainty of the existing sign’s deteriorated surface and internal structure and the reduced long-term maintenance costs.”
The Public Art Advisory Committee’s Feb. 16 meeting saw discussion of the options, and “although the hope was to pursue Option 1, the committee agreed that Option 2 would be the best direction.”
The committee also recommended adding a story board at the sign location to “pay homage to the original Paramount sign and theatre.”
During the discussion around the council table, Coun. Chris Kloot asked if the replica option would have “real light bulbs” the way the original did, and the answer was it would.
Coun. Harv Westeringh noted it would have been nice to have kept the original, but at a cost of $80,000, they settled on the replica idea.
Mayor Ken Popove said they could have considered refurbishing the old sign, “if it wasn’t for the lead based paint” it likely contains, and agreed the replica was the best way to go.
Coun. Nicole Read said the Paramount sign and history was “significant to many” but not to all residents, because not everyone was born and raised here, but a replica of heritage signage will be a “great addition.”
Popove added he’s still working on a way to resurrect the original sign somewhere else possibly, and told staff he would keep advocating for that.
In the end council voted to direct staff to proceed with Option 2, creating a full-size replica of the Paramount “P” section.
In terms of the history of the Paramount Theatre it opened in 1949, and served the community as a downtown gathering place, and a movie house landmark for more than 60 years, until 2010 when the business owner closed the doors for good and donated the building to City of Chilliwack.
City council decided in August 2012 to demolish the much-loved historic building rather than restore it because it was not considered financially feasible, due to its dilapidated condition.
A group Save the Chilliwack Paramount, tried to present a business proposal for conserving the Paramount building, and repurposing it as a repertory theatre, but it was rejected by council of the day which refused to use taxpayer funds, citing the lack of sufficient financial backing and insurance coverage.
READ MORE: Nostalgia for the iconic Paramount sign
