Remnant opposition to Salt Lake City’s pending sale of the Utah Theater on downtown’s Main Street broke into public view again Tuesday when film buff Michael Valentine chained himself to
Protester Michael Valentine says positive comments from city leaders led him to end his hunger strike and send an ‘olive branch’ even as he tries to prevent the historic playhouse’s demolition.
Remnant opposition to Salt Lake Cityâs pending sale of the Utah Theater on downtownâs Main Street broke into public view again Tuesday when film buff Michael Valentine chained himself to the shuttered hall and vowed a hunger strike to save it.
Valentine and other die-hard supporters of the dilapidated playhouse sought to draw attention to allegations of âserious abusesâ in the cityâs handling of its late 2019 deal to sell the historic site to developers, who are pressing plans to raze the 103-year-old hall and build a 31-story residential skyscraper and city park.
âThis is not for the betterment of the city,â Valentine said of the theaterâs impending demolition as he plopped down on the sidewalk beneath the theaterâs old marquee and locked his arms and legs in heavy cables threaded through its door handles, vowing to stay for days â or until city leaders heeded his concerns.