Grow up

For the second time, the Monroe County Alcoholic Beverages Board has delayed its decision about whether it will issue an alcohol permit to the current owners of the Von Lee Theater on Kirkwood Avenue. We understand the controversy, but not the delay -- a decision just simply has to be made soon.\nJay Michener, new owner of the Von Lee and owner of Artemis LLC, has petitioned for an alcohol permit and says he intends to use the permit to establish an "upscale" bar and restaurant.\nChris Sturbaum, organizer of the "Save the Von Lee" campaign, is against the alcohol permit and would like to see the theater restored. The Von Lee's former owner, Kerasotes, placed a covenant on the deed stating no movies can be shown in the theater. \n We understand the historical context of the theater. The theater has been a part of Bloomington for more than 70 years. If it were at all possible and probable that the theater could be revived today as part of a restoration and renovation to downtown, we would welcome it, as it might fill an important niche to the cinematic and collegiate experience. \nBut in the same breath, we also do not have a problem with allowing the liquor license to be issued and allowing a bar and restaurant to appear -- unlike Lynne Coyne, IU director of real estate and economic development, who voiced the University's opposition to the liquor license approval on the grounds that another bar would promote student binge drinking. (As if the rest of the bars on Kirkwood somehow promote only light social drinking.) \nIn fact, we would encourage the University to make any kind of contacts it can to health scholars, since the University has miraculously and finally cracked the mystery and now knows definitively the maximum number of bars allowable in a college town without the threat of promoting binge drinking.\nFurthermore, some say transforming the Von Lee into a bar and restaurant will denigrate the image of the Sample Gates. But the bars on Kirkwood are already visible from the Sample Gates, and a number of them are within earshot from the Von Lee itself. \n(It should also be noted, for the sake of accuracy, that the IU Experience Campus Landmark Internet photo tour, www.iub.edu/tour, highlights the Sample Gates with a picture which looks into the campus, not out onto Kirkwood.)\nBut enough is enough. The decision pertaining to the alcohol permit has been postponed for too long. On Mar. 3, when the Beverages Board reconvenes, we hope it will hand down a decision and conclude this debate. Whatever that decision may be, we will welcome it.\nIt's time for one, anyway. We support any proposal, as long as the building doesn't sit dirty and vacant for many more years, because that would be a truly blemishing sight.