News that a developer has interest in restoring the former Ritz Theater in downtown Natchez is welcome.

The historic theater has been a vacant shell of its once glitzy past for nearly half a century. Its restoration could be the start of further downtown revitalization.

However, before the Historic Natchez Foundation, which owns the building, hands over the property, we hope the Foundation gets some assurances the building will be restored as promised and within a reasonable time frame.

The once bustling movie theater has been left to decay in its once prominent location in the middle of downtown Natchez. Natchez is fortunate that citizens David Paradise and Burk Baker were in a position to purchase the building in the 2002 and donate it to the good hands at the Historic Natchez Foundation. Without their collective effort, the theater could truly be lost to the ages. Now, it has a chance for new life.

Across the country, similar theaters have been restored to their original use and are hosting movies and other events to the delight of those who are rediscovering new, hip downtown venues. As downtowns go, few are more beautiful than ours in Natchez.

Reason for optimism is high. The developer, Charlie Watzke, expects to open the restored historic Choctaw Cinema in Waveland, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, within the next two months. That theater will feature four screens and first-run movies, as well as a candy counter, cocktail lounge and dinner theater space.

Such a theater downtown would do well here. Having something for locals and visitors to do in the evenings downtown would be welcome.

At the same time, the building will be costly to renovate. The Historic Natchez Foundation should be certain the potential developer has the resources needed to rehab the building and a business model to give the project a good chance at success.