Theater begins preparing for construction
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on March 14, 2004 2:10 AM
After a frenzied day of activity Friday, United Entertainment Co. gained a significant lead over All Star Entertainment in the race to build the first multiplex movie theater in Goldsboro.
The city issued the company a foundation permit late Friday afternoon, so footings and a concrete slab could be placed and poured over the weekend.
Last week it looked like All Star would be the first to begin construction after a special council meeting was held to consider All Star's site and landscape plan for the 14-screen theater. The council approved the plan at the special meeting, but said that All Star must pay $19,000 to a state environmental fund for possible potential increases in nitrogen runoff by the development.
All Star is plans to build its multiplex theater on the south side of Berkeley Boulevard between Central Heights Road and New Hope Road,
United Entertainment's 12-screen theater is planned to be off the Martin Luther King Expressway near the Best Western Motel and Norwood Avenue.
Both All Star and United had to pay about $19,000 to the state's Ecosystem Enhancement Fund as an offset payment for nitrogen runoff before being issued a building permit.
United submitted a certified copy of its check for $19,803 to the city's engineering department earlier this week, but nothing has been submitted by All Star.
"We'll have to have the receipt in hand," said Assistant City Planning Director Jimmy Rowe.
Sue Fallin, who owns the property where All Star plans to build, said that she believes All Star is still forging ahead with its plans.
"The last word I heard from them is that they still plan to build, and that they haven't backed down," she said.