Check out our 2019 “Non-Profit Theater Survey,” which shows how many small towns have saved and supported their local theaters.

August, 2021:  

August 12 Approval by the Madison Zoning Board of Adjustment of multiple variances for the developer

March/April 2021:  

Transcript of the March 11, 2021 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting

Transcript of the March 4, 2021 Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting  

Developer’s rendering of the new building:  View from Train Platform (Before and After)

Architect Slide Show from March 4 Zoning Board Meeting

Traffic Evaluation 2019_for 14 Lincoln Place January, 2019

Traffic and Parking Supplemental Evaluation September, 2020

November 2020 Updated Architectural Plans (no theater):

GW Archs Nov 2020 1 of 2 (pdf)

GW Archs Nov 2020 2 of 2 (pdf)

Historic Preservation Committee Meeting

There were two HPC meetings recently – as is all the rage these days it was done on Zoom.

September 8, 2020:  The initial presentation (below) was considered inadequate and with this meeting Saxum presented the updated historical documentation along with architectural drawings and final site plans of the building Saxum plans to replace the theatre with.  It should be noted that the new building does not include a theater.

August 11, 2020: The initial Presentation of Preservation Documentation of Lyons Theater building By Saxum Development Historic Preservation Consultant.  This meeting is available on video.

A pdf of the presentation is available, unfortunately the town supplied pdf as B&W and were unable to include the architectural drawings:  Historic Preservation Documentation — partial B&W

Images from above in higher quality (pretty clear photos of what the inside of the theatre looks like after being uncared for and sealed for four years.)

Saxum (the developer) has appealed the HPC’s mandatory requirements:

  1. They don’t want a theater in their building.
  2. They want to demolish the building now without waiting on permits for their new building.
  3. They want to be able to build a building that exceeds the height restrictions of the historic district.

There were six Historic Preservation meetings leading up to the final resolution. All six meetings are available to watch on our Video Page.  The final meeting they also voted on SMT’s Request for HPC Reconsideration, please read it if you have not had the opportunity.

If you are the type that likes transcripts instead of videos, transcripts for three of the six meetings can be found here:

In the meetings the Developer and town presented multiple documents, they are here for you to read.  

Impotant:  SMT’s Request for HPC Reconsideration

Historic Reviews:

Engineering Report:

Architectural Documents:

Technical Coordinating Committee meeting September 17, 2019 Application Summary and Correspondence regarding Saxum’s development application

Zoning Board of Adjustment

On March 12, 2020, just as everything was shutting down, the Zoning Board of Adjustment held a meeting to hear an appeal by the developer Saxum regarding 3 important mandatory conditions the Historic Preservation Commission placed on the proposed demolition and construction.  The transcript is now available and can be found here:  031220 Zoning Board of Adjustment. (pdf).

HPC Background

Madison and the Lyon’s Madison Movie Theater are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is part of Madison’s historic district.  Learn more about Madison’s Historic Preservation Commission, code, and ordinances:

The Madison Theater is not just a place for the community to come together and see movies, it is also a unique building that introduces Madison to train goers everyday.  A great documentary on the importance of preserving our history is this documentary on the destruction of The Original Penn Station.

Alternatives to Demolition

Saving the Madison Theater as a building isn’t enough.  We would like the theater to be a going concern for generations to come.  The theater’s 100th anniversary is just around the corner. 

The theater could be run as a non-profit supporting local arts while still showing movies.  A community performing arts hub and a great place to see movies with the kids – right in the heart of downtown.  

One local theater, The Penn Theatre of Plymouth, Michigan has learned of our fight and has sent words of encouragement:

If Plymouth, MI can do it, so can Madison, NJ.

Additional resources related to the economic impact of a local theater