Community Corner

POLL: Downtown Cinema's Effect on Businesses

Although the proposed theater may have compromised the "small town" feel in Westport, downtown businesses most likely would have benefited from the increase in foot traffic.

A downtown movie theater would have drawn people to Westport to shop, dine and support local businesses, essentially lowering taxes for residents as more businesses moved in, according to Westport resident Sal Liccione.

On Sept. 15, Westport's Planning and Zoning Commission withdrew Amendment 637, which was targeted at providing a community cinema, after it provoked an uproar of criticism for allowing 60 foot buildings. 

“I went to almost every business in Saugatuck and did a survey. 10 out of 10 want a downtown theater. They really want something going on downtown,” Liccione says, noting he visited businesses like ,  and .

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In May,  in an informal poll on the Westport Patch Facebook page.

“The people in this area, the businesses of district 9 should be making the decision,” Liccione says. 

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Liccione has lived in Westport for 8 years and is running for a district 9 spot in the Westport RTM.

“People could go to , go see a movie and then go out to eat. It would be like a mini entertainment hub,” Liccione says.

Fairfield County residents from surrounding towns would have been more inclined to walk around Westport and spend money, according to Liccione.

“You talk to a lot of people from Norwalk and Fairfield and they love to come down to Westport to go shopping, go out to eat and maybe see a movie. There is so much going on here.”

As a young person, Liccione feels the theater would have also been convenient in Westport.

“What if I don’t feel like going to Norwalk or Fairfield? My whole family lives in Westport and, personally, I want our downtown to get better,” Liccione says. “I am sure 80 to 90 percent of residents would love to see a boom in downtown.”

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