After decades in the dark, a historic movie house in northwest Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood is finally on the comeback trail. The city’s Board of Adjustment has signed off on a key zoning variance that clears the way for the century‑old Yates Theater to reopen as an approximately 300‑seat independent cinema with a front‑of‑house bar and lounge, allowing the developers to move ahead on design and restoration plans.
The five‑member board voted unanimously on Tuesday to grant the seating variance that had stalled the project, according to Denverite. The outlet reports that operators Macy Lao and Kyle Hagan plan to revive the Yates, built in 1926 and long vacant, as an independent movie house called Waystation, screening classic films and second‑run titles. Neighbors who showed up to the hearing were largely in favor of bringing the theater back, per the report.
Board Members Lean On New Parking Policy
During the hearing, board members pushed back against calls for much tougher parking requirements and instead pointed to the city’s recent overhaul of its parking rules, which is phasing out many minimums. According to the City of Denver, those changes are designed to reduce dependence on cars and make adaptive reuse projects easier to pull off. That broader policy backdrop helped shape the board’s comfort level in granting the variance despite lingering concerns about traffic and late‑night activity in the area.
Conditions, Agreements and Neighbor Support
City staff in Community Planning and Development had recommended approval only if the theater secured 40 parking spaces and shut down by 11 p.m. Yet the board opted to approve the variance without locking in those specific conditions, according to Denverite. To reassure neighbors, Lao and Hagan entered into a good‑neighbor agreement with Berkeley Regis United Neighbors that caps operating hours and rules out standing‑room concerts or larger late‑night events. Support from the neighborhood group and several residents who testified appeared to soften opposition from a smaller cluster of nearby neighbors worried about noise and crowds.
Next Steps for the Owners
In interviews ahead of the hearing, Lao and Hagan said they planned to finalize architectural designs and move toward construction once city permits and financing line up. CBS Colorado reported that the pair is aiming for a spring 2027 opening if everything stays on track. The couple last year signed a 10‑year lease for the building, as earlier reporting by Westword noted. They also plan to apply for a liquor license and the standard building‑safety permits required for assembly spaces.
How Licensing and Permits Could Play Out
The project still has to clear several layers of city review. The operators will need a liquor or cabaret license, with public hearings handled by the Department of Excise and Licenses, along with building permits and routine safety inspections for public assembly. According to the City of Denver, Denver’s licensing pages spell out the application steps, hearing procedures, public‑notice rules, timelines, and opportunities for community comment on alcohol permits. If those approvals and inspections move along without major hiccups, the Yates could join a small wave of historic neighborhood cinemas flickering back to life across Denver.
