Developer cancels plan to build a movie studio in Norristown, Pa.

    “If you build it, they will come.” That’s what we’re led to believe in the movies. But in the real world it doesn’t always work out that way. A movie production studio planned for Norristown, Pa. will not be built because the movies might not come.

    “If you build it, they will come.” That’s what we’re led to believe in the movies. But in the real world it doesn’t always work out that way. A movie production studio planned for Norristown, Pa. will not be built because the movies might not come.

    Listen:
    [audio:100205PCSTUDIO2.mp3]

    It was going to be a half-million square feet of sound stage, post-production, and offices for major movies productions. The movies would be lured to Pennsylvania by film tax credits, but those tax credits were cut in the last state budget. Now the developer, Charles Gallub, says the future is too uncertain to go forward.

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    The state had granted $10 million dollars in redevelopment funds to construct a movie studio. Gallub is now planning to build a grocery store and mixed-use commercial center instead.

    Gallub: The jobs that we have created to date exceed the permanent jobs created by the studio. The grant was focused on the redevelopment of a part of Norristown which our development is located in. We are optimistic we will be able to work with the state.

    However, the state feels differently. The reimbursement fund was to be paid upon completion of a movie studio. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development says now it is unlikely those funds will be available for a different kind of development.

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