Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-02
A QUARTER MILLION
To Be Expended in a Splendid Sue
cessor to Harris Theater.
PALATIAL STORES Or A HOTEL
To Be Erected by the Coleman Estate on
the Old Museum Site,
In FRONT OF THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE

1t is now practically settled fact that
before very long the Harris Theater build
ing on Fifth avenue will undergo such
transformation as will more or less affect the
entire site occupied by the Coleman estate.
1t is contemplated to tear down the entire
front of the Grand Opera House (Which is,
as most people know, the Harris Theater
building and replace 1t by a new structure,
which may either be used for business pur-
poses, for hotel, or for both.
The Board of Directors of the Grand
Opera House Company held meeting yes
terday afternoon in the Office of Mr.. Colum-
bus Coleman, to discuss the question as to
what shall be done with the building. The
board met as representatives of all the
stockholders. The latter are the heirs,
numbering seven in all, six ladies and Mr..
William Coleman, the latter of whom is at
present in France.
1t has for long time been potent to the
stockholders that their property was not
bringing fair dividends, as one would ex-
pect such valuable site should do. Their
profits from the Harris Theater are very
small, and the third floor of the front part of
the building is entirely vacant, and no
revenue is coming in from that at all. The
ladies of the estate have for a long time
wished that something might be done, and
have therefore requested the directors to de-
wise some means to increase their divi-
dends.
IT WOULD YIELD NICE PROFITS.
The board, ,:chiefy composed of relatives
or legal advisers of the ladies-and all men
of sound business qualities-are unanimous
in their opinion that the change of the
building into block of business houses
would be the best thing that could be done.
Mr.. Columbus Coleman, administrator of
the estate, in speaking of the contemplated
change, yesterday afternoon, said:
"The.stockholders have not yet all made
up their minds what shall be done with the
property, because they appear to dislike the
idea of building new structure. But the
Board of Directors are unanimously for such
project, and I have every reason to be-
Iieve that it will be done. OF course, we
cannot commence to tear the building down
until Mr.. Harris lease has run out.
"When will that be?''
''In July, 1890. The Grand Opera House
proper, however, which sits back of the
building, will not be touched, because Mr.
Wilt has got a lease of that for six years to
come; but tearing down of the front would
change the present entrance"
'What is the project you have in view?"
"Well, we have not decided upon a def
mite plan yet, because, as 1 said before,
nf ho 1od hov MI 81
tearing down, and while we are confident
that they will not object after we have
proved to them the advisability of rebuild
ing, still there is no use to form a definite
plan until that time comes. However, 1
will give you my own personal idea of the
subject, and I think it would be the best
thing to be done. The entire front, as far
back as the Grand Opera House, should
come down, and
A MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE
be erected on the site. Thepresent ensrance
of the Grand Opera House will then be re-
moved to the upper part of the lot, toward
Smithfeld street. We will then have
clear front down past the tailor's store
This new structure, which have estimated
can only be erected at cost of about $780,
900, could be utilized for various purposes.
If business establishments were to occupy
IL, the investment would yield greater
profit by far than is realized out of the
property now.
'Then again it is well-known fact that
the hotel business is very lucrative. So it
is possible that while the basement and
ground floor could be let for business, a
grand hotel might occupy the upper floors,
and, if the building were to go up six or
seven stories, there would be enough rooms
there to number almost as many as those of
any hotel in town."
Mr.. Coleman said all this before the
meeting, while a reporter was in his Office.
He said that the matter would come under
discussion during the afternoon.
After the conference of the board was
concluded, W. F. MeCook, ESQ.,, who is
also one of the directors, was called on, and
asked whether anything definite had been
decided upon. Said he:
"No, not as yet; there are still two ladies
among the stockholders who have not vet
given their consent. But there is no doubt
about it going through. 1t is sure to come
to that However, since Mr.. Harris lease
lasts about 10 months yet, we have plenty
of time ahead to do all we want to-"