Ridgewood Theatre up for landmarking
March 23, 2009 11:30AM By James Kelly
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The 92-year-old Ridgewood Theatre at 55-27 Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, is up for designation by the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission.
A hearing on whether to designate the building's facade a landmark will take place tomorrow, with a vote by the commission planned for some time this year, said agency spokesperson Elisabeth de Bourbon.
Neighborhood preservationists have been moving to have the five-screen movie theater landmarked since it closed a year ago this month. It was purchased the same month by Anthony Montalbano, CEO of Montalbano Builders, for $6.02 million, according to public records. It went back on the market two months later for $14 million, according to the Ridgewood Ledger, but has not traded since. Montalbano did not return a request for comment.
The 20,500-square-foot building, opened in 1916, was designed by Thomas Lamb, a prominent architect who designed movie theaters across the United States, as well as several internationally, including in Toronto and Mumbai. The Levy Brothers developed the theater for $250,000.
Forest Hills resident Michael Perlman, who has been at the forefront of the landmarking effort, founded the Friends of the Ridgewood Theatre one week after it closed, and has garnered much support from Ridgewood residents and preservation organizations since. The organizations include the Theatre Historical Society of America, the Queens branch of the American Institute of Architects and the Ridgewood Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District.
Perlman said current rumors hold that the theater will reopen this spring and function as a multiplex film venue once again.
In addition to what he calls the theater's "celebrated historical, cultural and architectural significance," he points out the economic advantage to the area by reopening the theater.
"Reopening the Ridgewood Theatre would help boost jobs for the neighborhood, and help contribute to property values and street traffic for businesses, a huge boon, considering today's economy," said Perlman, who is optimistic about the landmarking.
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Comments
Robert Greenstone
The desire of local residents to landmark and reopen THIS obsolete theater is misplaced, unrealistic, and frankly short-sighted. Older cinemas can no longer compete against stadium-seated theaters - which was one of the main reasons why most cinema circuits went bankrupt ten years ago. If they can't make money, no one will operate them. Landmarking cinemas like the Ridgewood only worsens their marketability.
Comment #1 Posted By: Robert Greenstone 03/24/09
Robert Greenstone
Further.. this isn't a game-changing, magnificent theater from days of yore. Changing it's status is like feeding fat-laden comfort food to a heart attack patient. While it feels good going in, the long term result is terminal. Keeping this property dark for years (with no operator) while appealing to Mr. Perlman is detrimental to the area. Movie theaters generate traffic during the evenings and on weekends. It doesn't drive consumer traffic into nearby stores when they're open. Nearby restaurants might benefit, but not the vast majority of the local retailers. Further, cinemas need better parking than the street-side parking the Ridgewood has. The new Regal cinemas in Atlas Park which I brokered serves the community, has ample parking and is in a safe, beautiful environment. I have a very prime corner space available near the Ridgewood theater, and I'd rather see another great retailer liven up the area than have the Ridgewood space stay dark for the next 10 years.
Comment #2 Posted By: Robert Greenstone 03/24/09
Anonymous
Mr. Greenstone- it's nice to see that you have such a wonderful sense of business. It's too bad you can't take the green stuff with you. Persons like yourself are the exact reason there is detriment to historical structures- bodies of power, fueled by money, that are only interested in temporary profits and unable to see that those involved in all of this are only temporary holders of money and property themselves. I say, out with big business, culture-ravaging practices of homogenizing our neighborhoods into corporate profit-factories and leave architectural flavor for the many generations that should follow and walk above our graves to enjoy.
Comment #3 Posted By: Anonymous 03/24/09
Anonymous
landmark it! there are plenty of other uses for it - theater, arts community center - yes, movies.
Comment #4 Posted By: Anonymous 03/24/09
Anon
Landmark this? Why? If this was a performance theater I would completely agree, but this place did nothing other than show mostly B grade comedies and action movies. No real cultural significance. Just because the building is old doesn't make it important. Just be grateful if ANYONE decides to open a business in that giant, poorly laid out chunk of land.
Comment #5 Posted By: Anon 03/25/09
Robert Greenstone
So, you're saying YOU would put your money into this theater? Your own money? You feel that strongly that this theater is so important to you because of... why? Because you're used to seeing it there? When you had a chance to frequent it, were you sitting there alone? Or were the seats filled? While I regret these things happening, it's inevitable.
Comment #6 Posted By: Robert Greenstone 04/23/09