Thursday, November 3, 2005
Who set the fire?
Theater owner Terry Hirchag said the building is an ‘eyesore’ and a ’magnet for the homeless’ and he’d like to tear it down and develop the site.


By RACHEL OLSEN
SUN POST NEWS



Investigators say arson was the cause of a fire Monday night at a San Clemente historical building.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Stephen Miller said investigators are looking at suspects. The investigation could take several days or weeks, he said.

On Tuesday, workers shifted through piles of rubbish at the burned Miramar Theater, on El Camino Real.

In the lobby, objects covered almost the entire walking area. Broken glass, bikes, a shoe rack adorned with shoes, a Saddleback College school binder filled with papers and artwork littered the damaged facility. Children’s toys were even found on the second story of theater, where there was smoke damage.

Terry Hirchag, owner of the Miramar Theater, worked with the crew and walked around the property that had been boarded up for the past six months.

Somehow, he said, individuals found their way in.

In the year since he purchased the Miramar, Hirchag said he’s boarded up the old theater a few times. The last time he boarded up the building was six months ago.

“This place is a magnet for the homeless,” Hirchag said.

Living only a couple of blocks away, he often drove by the theater, walked around and checked on the structure, he said. The entire time the building remained boarded up and it looked as if no one had entered.

However, as he surveyed the damage, vandalism and piles of material on Tuesday, it was obvious one or more people used the run-down structure as shelter.

The San Clemente resident bought the Miramar Theater with the intention to tear it down, but a fire, he said, was the last thing he needed.

“It just puts me under suspicion, which I don’t need,” Hirchag said.

Mike Cotter, San Clemente Historical Society president, said the Society would like to see the theater, like all historical buildings, preserved.

Hirchag said the building is an eyesore. He purchased it to tear it down and improve the North entrance of the city.

“I never planned to renovate, I’ve always wanted to … tear it down,” he said.

Cotter said the Historical Society would like to see at least the exterior of the building – untouched by the fire – restored.

The fire started and remained within the lobby portion of the theater and caused about $50,000 worth of damage, Miller said.

Because of the building’s dilapidated state, fire damage wasn’t an issue, Hirchag said.

Instead, costs would arise from boarding up the building again, leaving one accessible entry into the theater and hiring security to come and check to make sure the structure was vacant.

The Miramar Theater is on the city’s list of historical buildings, Cotter said.

Although the city does not have a landmark ordinance, a committee is working to create one, he said, and he would be surprised if the Miramar wasn’t on that list.

“The Miramar will definitely be on the list,” Cotter said.

Hirchag said he intends to submit development plans to the city in the near future. Once he submits those plans to the city, it will take another year for environmental, structural and historic impact studies to be conducted, he said.

“People see this as a blighted part of town. I’m embarrassed as a citizen. I bought the theater to develop and improve this area,” he said.

In the meantime, the San Clemente Historical Society is holding a celebration of the Miramar Theater, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Talega Swim and Athletic Club, 100 Calle Altea.

Cotter said instead of “going up in arms” about potential demolition of the building, the Historical Society is looking to remind people about the importance of the Miramar Theater.

“The Miramar is important historically on so many levels,” Cotter said. Besides being designed by a famous architect, the building is the North entrance to the city and represents the attitude of the Depression.

“The Miramar is

important historically

on so many levels.”


Mike CotterSan Clemente Historical Society president

Rachel Olsen