Flatbush Jewel May Yet Sparkle Again
We’ve heard this one before: In 2006, the city was shopping around for a developer to bring the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Flatbush back to life, and then again in 2008; about a year ago, the city said that it had finally landed a savior for the formerly glorious movie palace, but it’s been crickets…
We’ve heard this one before: In 2006, the city was shopping around for a developer to bring the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Flatbush back to life, and then again in 2008; about a year ago, the city said that it had finally landed a savior for the formerly glorious movie palace, but it’s been crickets since then. Until now. According to The Post, “Plans to turn Brooklyn’s biggest movie theater—the once-majestic Loews Kings in Flatbush—into ‘the next Apollo’ should become reality by 2014, officials say. Borough President Marty Markowitz is expected to announce during his State of the Borough address tonight that site-preparation work has begun on the city’s $70 million plan to restore the 82-year-old historic jewel. The theater closed in 1978. Construction is set to begin next year.” Extremely exciting! Shots of the interior can be seen in this Flickr set.
Long Live ‘Kings’ of Flatbush [NY Post]
Developer Save the Kings? [Brownstoner] GMAP
Loew’s King Theatre To Be Restored [Brownstoner]
A Chance to Bring Back an Old Brooklyn Gem [Brownstoner]
Photo by flatbushgardener.
Sheesh, lighten up is right. People know it costs money to make money right? One must spend money to create jobs? There will be hundreds of people employed on the renovation portion of it alone. And there will be all the materials purchased for it. It’s fantastic news and not just from a preservationist standpoint. Though from that perspective saving one of the handful of remaining theaters like this in the country is a pretty big deal. All of Brooklyn should be proud it’s being accomplished. Even if you live in Boerum Hill and would rather the money be spent there.
luv: hopefully this will bring employment to some of the people out of work during the construction and for years to come. This is wonderful and I can’t wait to see the results.
luv: lighten up! There are always challenges, if we waited for the perfect Utopian moment to do important cultural projects we would never do them. Besides the Dow Jones is back above 1200, the recession seems to be easing, and it is this type of project that creates jobs! both in terms of construction jobs and later theater-related jobs. I repeat: there is no downside to this.
People are out of work, losing their jobs, transit fares are rising, food gas and oil prices are inflating and they have millions to spend on restoring a building that has been sitting unused for years and serves no imminent purpose? Unbelievable. I am not against the restoration of this building but now is not the time. I think those funds could be put to better use.
I agree that it will be an economic boost to the area but it will also provide a much-needed state of the art performance venue for Brooklyn apart from BAM. We are a big enough city to have two.
The developers, who I believe are based in Texas, have done this sort of thing, renovate old theaters and then run them, in a lot of cities including Boston and DC. There is no downside to this. This is exactly what the city should be investing in if we believe we have a future. If we think we are broke and dying, then no, we should save the money for the funeral.
Yea! This is good news. I look forward to seeing the progress. And I agree with Flatbushman, ENY, and Bxgrl. This could really be an ecomomic starter in the neighborhood.
Beautiful space. Is this the theater that originally had a bowling alley in the basement for the ushers?
OMG…..that is extremely exciting. What a beauty. Just hope that the restore and not renovate with alot of faux plaster that looks like a new building trying to look old. I don’t live far and would surely go!
just to clarify- I would love to see this restored and an economic engine for the community. And I actually do see it providing more benefit to the neighborhood its in than AY because I think it’s a more much realistic project.