MULTIPLEX WINS ACCESSIBILITY AWARD

BLOCK e DEVELOPER McCAFFERY INTERESTS AND CROWN THEATRES HONORED WITH ACCESSIBILITY AWARD

STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY FOR HEARING AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

(Minneapolis, MN) — McCaffery Interests Inc., developer of Block e, and Crown Theatres, owners of the new 15-screen Crown Block e Theatres Multiplex, are this year’s recipients of the 2002 Access Award by the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities.

For the first time in the City of Minneapolis, people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing are invited to enjoy movie viewing because assistive technology is being incorporated. This is an example of a feature not required by code, but requested by patrons. It is available because the committee worked with Crown Theater, McCaffery and City representatives to ensure inclusiveness.

The award-winning multiplex , which officially opens on Friday, Nov. 1, is equipped with the latest in state of the art NCAM approved listening device system for the hearing and visually impaired and a prototype Mopix system for the deaf adaptable to different auditoriums. In an ongoing program, Crown Theatres will begin training staff in American Sign language to better serve those patrons.

Crown and McCaffery Interests Inc. worked closely with the City of Minneapolis and advocacy groups to provide advance technology that allows the hearing and vision impaired to enjoy major release films. The new multiplex is the recipient of a 2002 design Access Award from the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities.

Tom Becker, Crown Theatres Director of Special Events and Clayton McCaffery, Director of Business Development for McCaffery Interests, accepted the award.

The award-winning 15-screen Crown Theatres Multiplex provides ultramodern accommodations and a wide variety of movie choices. The amenities include 4,000 stadium-style seats, Dolby digital sound, a diverse selection of concessions and advanced ticketing systems. In addition, the theatres are available for business meetings and corporate rental. The newly constructed cinema, encompassing the entire third floor features plush rocking chair stadium seating with retractable cupholder armrests, THX/Lucasfilm acoustically certified auditoriums with Dolby Digital Sound system and wall to wall screens.

Daniel M. Crown, regarding the theater emphasized, “Block e is integral for the downtown area to become a key destination site in Minneapolis and we are delighted to be a part of that dynamic. The Block e 15 Theatre will become the entertainment keystone for Block e and will provide the quality of motion picture presentation and service that our patrons have come to expect from a Crown Theatre.”

The Crown Block e 15 is located at 600 Hennepin Ave; phone for show times and advanced ticketing: (612) 338-5900. For further information contact Tom Becker (203) 846-8800 or Steve Gould (212) 242-2749 at Crown Theatres.

About Crown Theatres
The 172-screen Crown Theatres is based in Norwalk, CT with theaters throughout that state and in New York, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, and Nevada. Plans and construction are under way at sites in Glenview, IL and Long Beach, CA. The Managing Director of Crown Block e 15 is longtime Crown and industry veteran Al Walker, contact phone number is (612) 338 1466.

About McCaffery Interests, Inc.
Chicago-based McCaffery Interests, Inc., was founded in 1991 and is a nationally recognized developer of quality urban retail and entertainment centers. In addition to the Block E development, other current projects include Clarendon Centre The Market Common, Clarendon, a 10-acre multi-use complex in Arlington, Va.

Block E Contact:
Melissa R. Cohen
MRC Public Relations, Inc.
Ph: (763) 377-0272
Fx: (763) 377-0274
Cell: (612) 581-5456
email me

Sue Frase
(763) 546-8195

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