When you say "make the city pay" you mean to say "make the homeowners of Anchorage who pay property taxes pay". Owning a house in east Anchorage, I have no interest in paying to refurbish or maintain either of these buildings. It will cost less to tear down the Northern Light Inn than to make it safe again. And if you tear it down, the lot could be sold to a new business and make more money for the muni. The theater is old, requires extensive renovations to bring it up to code, and is too small to be a usable modern theater. Last it was used for was a catering business if I remember. With the financial situation in Alaska being what it is, it is time to cut losses and not take on new spending.