Is Crown Uptown’s occupancy increasing? Here’s what Wichita City Council did

The future of the Crown Uptown Theatre is still uncertain.

On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council denied the theater owner’s latest application to increase the occupancy limit in the building.

The increase would have allowed the fire marshal to set the occupancy limit for the 96-year-old theater at 3207 E. Douglas. An earlier proposal, rejected in December, would have increased the theater’s occupancy from 850 people to 2,066.

The owner, Mike Brown, said in November he would consider tearing down the building if the occupancy limit was not increased. Brown, who wants to turn the former movie and dinner theater into a concert venue, has said he needs the full capacity to turn a profit.

Planning Director Scott Wadle indicated Tuesday that the theater could be used for storage by the owner if the application was denied. The Eagle has reached out to Brown for comment.

City Fire Marshal Chris Dugan voiced opposition to the latest plan during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“Personally, I know the Planning Commission approved it, but I personally would not be in support of adoption of that request,” he said to the council.

When the original proposal came to the council in December, council members had concerns about fire safety and parking and sent it back to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission. Those issues had not been addressed by Tuesday’s council meeting.

“The proposed amendment would allow a more intense use and would have detrimental impacts to neighboring properties,” council member Brandon Johnson said. “Those impacts also include parking and congestion in the area.”

The owner can apply again for an occupancy increase in six months to a year.

This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM.