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Out Foxed
Well, just as one door opens and another door closes for fans of old Southern California movie palaces.
Just as the Fox Fullerton finds a white knight that saves it from eradication, the Fox Theater in Riverside loses a last minute reprieve from a forced sale by the Riverside City Council.
"The Riverside City Council voted Tuesday to seize the Fox Theater, saying the current owner had failed to restore the historic vaudeville stage and cinema and turn it into a cutting-edge performing arts center.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
The vote authorizes the city's redevelopment agency to use its power of eminent domain to force the sale of the theater to the city for $1.667 million, hundreds of thousands less than owner H.J. "Joe" Zivnak said would compensate him for what he invested in the theater.
"This is a difficult day - one I had hoped could be avoided," said Councilman Dom Betro before the 7-0 vote.
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