Courtesy Photo A rendering of the new State Theater marquee is seen in this courtesy image. The first step to removing the old marquee and installing a new one has been taken.

ALPENA — The first step to removing the old marquee at the State Theater in downtown Alpena and installing a new one has been taken.

On April 24, the Alpena Zoning Board of Appeals voted to allow the theater’s owner, Jeff Konczak, to install a modern marquee that will offer a salute to the State Theater, as well as the historic Maltz Theater.

It is unknown at this time what Konczak intends to do with the old marquee when it is removed, but he has considered keeping it and putting it on display.

The marquee will also feature a series of digital message boards that will display messages about the theater and possibly other public information.

The Board of Appeals did restrict Konczak from being able to seek advertising for the sign, which he said he didn’t intend to do.

The board’s approval sets the stage for the old marquee to be removed, but it will be some time before the new one is installed.

The zoning board gave Konczak a year to pull the needed permit to do the work and another year to have the marquee installed. Konczak said it will take some time for the company hired to build the new theater front. He said the new marquee is being constructed by the same team that built the sign at the Sanctuary Cinema.

Konczak purchased the theater and plans to restore the theater to its 19th-century glory and call it the Maltz Theater

The new marquee will feature an 85 square foot projecting sign and two electronic message boards that will be attached to it.

The city will also have an electronic message board to have changing messages, scrolling messages, and animation, but it will not be allowed to contain flashing elements.

The electronic elements shall be of an intensity that the brightness and motion shall not adversely affect surrounding or facing premises, nor adversely affect the safe vision of pedestrians or operators of vehicles on public or private streets, driveways, or parking areas.

The message board must also contain a mechanism that automatically adjusts the intensity of its display according to natural ambient light conditions.

Montiel Birmingham, planning, development, and zoning director and the zoning administrator for the project, said in her report that the new sign will stick out locally, and there is nothing comparable in the area.

“This is a unique sign that is unlike any others in the community,” she said. “The Sanctuary Cinema sign is the most similar feel of the proposed sign, although much smaller scale and a marquee is not included.”

Konczak also owns the Sanctuary Cinema, which opened last year, and he owns The Vaughn, which is an old department store across from the State Theater.

A message was sent to Konczak seeking comment on the board of appeals ruling.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.