I don't find it strange that Duluth (MN) fire marshal Erik Simonson closed the historic Norshor Theatre because of fire code violations. I do, however, find it very strange that he chose to shut it down one week before the Bayfront Blues Festival, one of the more profitable events Duluth holds.
If the Norshor had fire code violations for so long, as Simonson claims, then why close it now instead of earlier or later? Why let the owners get geared up for the big weekend and then tear them down? Simonson is either very dumb or very smart. I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but with each move the city of Duluth makes with its downtown area, I get more suspicious.
Property in the downtown area is being renovated to attract new businesses, and it seems the city is more interested in growth than in saving the historic buildings that make Duluth a great place to visit and live. Isn't it a bit convenient that the Norshor, which is struggling financially, is now being deprived of a big moneymaking weekend? Isn't it also convenient that one of the owners of the Norshor, Eric Ringsred, has been a thorn in the sides of developers in his quest to preserve the historical beauty of downtown Duluth?
Yes, the Norshor has been given a helping hand many times, and continues to have troubles, but there's a reason the city should continue helping: because citizens care about it. It's old, it's outdated, and we love it to pieces. Letting the Norshor rot would be like tearing down the lift bridge in Canal Park. The bridge is also old and outdated, but citizens would storm to the mayor's house with pitchforks and fire if it were ever taken away. It's likely Duluth spends quite a bit of money fixing that old bridge, and the same should be done for the Norshor. I'm not saying the city should own it or pay for all the repairs, but after ruining the owners' chance to make some money, a small goodwill gesture to help with costs wouldn't be out of line.
The Norshor's request that we "Call Herb", the mayor, is a nice thought, but a misguided one (That was the last message printed on the marquee before the theatre closed last week). Herb Bergson is a stubborn man who, in a recent Duluth News Tribune article, seemed more interested in saving his reputation than easing the fears of his constituents who love the theater. City councilmen are the ones to contact. They've shown more interest than Bergson, and they outnumber him.
There have been many Norshor fiascos, but there are two important issues to deal with before this particular one can be over. First, obviously, is the development of a cost-feasible way to fix the fire code violations. This should involve a good, bullshit-free meeting between the owners and the fire marshal, to head off any future problems he might come up with. Second is to find out exactly who decided to close the Norshor at such an inconvenient time, whether it was Simonson or one of his superiors. Surely, even the dolts who work for the city know when the Bayfront Blues Festival begins. If the theater needed to be closed, it should have been done at least a month earlier to give them a chance to be in compliance before the festival.
Out of all the cities I've lived in, Duluth people seem the easiest to satisfy. I've rarely heard local residents ask for more than decent jobs and a few local places to hold onto and claim as their own. Is that so much to ask? Let's hope not.
