YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation is having an online auction to sell 28 items or batches of items left behind when the group bought the former Foster Theater on Glenwood Avenue.

Included in the auction are movie projectors, signs and movie reels. One listing called “eight parts related to film” contains film splice tape patches, for example.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit revitalization of the theater by YNDC.

Its executive director, Ian Beniston, said the building has an architectural style that is “atypical of the Mahoning Valley” and worthy of being preserved.

He said YNDC plans to restore the theater’s marquee and facade, but it has not decided yet how the building will be used.

“It is hard to see it in its present state, but it’s important to keep buildings like this,” he said. “You could not rebuild it if you tried.” He said the cost to renovate the theater is probably “seven figures.”

Among the auction items that have generated the largest bids so far is a sign at a front entrance with the name Foster Theater in script lettering and the words “Home of Youngstown Finest Adult Movies and Videos.”

It had received 19 bids by Tuesday afternoon, including the top bid of $475.

The top bid is not high enough to win the item, however, because the “reserve” price set for the item has not yet been met. The auction website does not say what the reserve amount is. The auction will continue through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 5.

A large piece of old movie theater equipment called a Super Simplex XELAMP projector had only one bid of $1, while a sign above another of the former theater’s doors that says “Memberships available” and “Join up!” had a high bid of $31.

The website for the auction is auctria.com/auction/fostertheaterauction.

erunyan@vindy.com