City interested in buying shuttered Mission Drive-In
Web Posted: 10/08/2007 11:55 PM CDT
James Muñoz
Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met...1510ca297.html
San Antonio's only drive-in theater is closed, and this time it may be for good.
The city wants to buy Mission Drive-In on the South Side for more than $3 million and bulldoze it. Santikos has signed the deal, and city leaders could approve it on Thursday.
The city has big plans for the 27-acre site along the 3100 block of Roosevelt Avenue, including a much-needed public library.
This historic drive-in opened in 1947. Santikos purchased the 60-year-old landmark in 2001. Last winter, vandals caused extensive damage, forcing Santikos to shut down the theater.
In August, the company announced it would reopen the drive-in. Now, there is news the city of San Antonio has plans for a multi-facility complex.
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"I think at the end of the day, you know, the Santikos organization have come together with the city of San Antonio to bring about a good quality asset for the community, not to say the drive in theater was not," District 3 Councilman Roland Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez says this plan has been in the works for a few years.
"Where we can provide literacy in the community, where we can provide a facility where people will be able to go to a library. Really more of a community facility that's going to be open for everybody," he said.
The city is already working with the federal government to put its regional national park headquarters on the site and talking with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. The non-profit is also interested in establishing headquarters at the complex.
City leaders are excited about the new library. Right now, District 3 only has one public library.
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