Wondering About the Loew's Wonder Theater
Almost exactly a year ago, the Economic Development Corporation put out a request for proposals for the redevelopment of the gargantuan, dilapidated Loew’s Kings theater in Flatbush. Since then, though, there’s been little news about plans for the property. The former “wonder theater” has been the subject of a number of failed revitalization schemes since…
Almost exactly a year ago, the Economic Development Corporation put out a request for proposals for the redevelopment of the gargantuan, dilapidated Loew’s Kings theater in Flatbush. Since then, though, there’s been little news about plans for the property. The former “wonder theater” has been the subject of a number of failed revitalization schemes since it closed in 1977 (in 1999, for example, Magic Johnson signed up to turn it into a modern multiplex). In March, the EDC told the Times they’d received multiple bids for the theater and that the agency would try to move beyond the initial stage of the project sometime this spring (which, obviously, didn’t happen). We called the EDC a couple of times to ask about where the project stood but haven’t heard back. Any intel out there about what is—or isn’t—cooking?
A Chance to Bring Back an Old Brooklyn Gem [Brownstoner] GMAP
Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn; The Kings Is Dead! Long Live the Kings! [NY Times]
A similar grand theater on the Concourse in the Bronx has been turned into a Latino-themed entertainment venue, available for catering and other events as well. Don’t know how it’s doing.
The best hope for this building is as a similar venue for entertainment from the non-Spanish speaking Carribean (reggae, ska, compas, etc).
Responding to this said:
“poor people turn pretty things into ugly things”
It’s not merely the state of being low-income that causes neglect of properties, or causes crime or drug use. It’s hopelessness, it’s lack of pride, it’s lack of ambition and aspirational living. There’s just more of that in poor neighborhoods.
Rich people with those problems and with mental illness neglect their houses too. See “Grey Gardens” documentary. Look at any of the abandoned neglected houses and buildings in Park Slope owned by disturbed people who will neither take care of them or let them go.
poor people turn pretty things into ugly things
The thread here is getting perilously close to racist in tone, rather than reflecting socio-economic differences. Shame on you!
Fear of said black/Latino people, white flight, economic abandoment by city and industry, societal shift to the suburbs, racism, redlining, loss of jobs, drugs, hopelessness, crime, and countless other complicated and intertwined factors cause the run down of neighborhoods.
In spite of all that, in even the worst neighborhood, which this is not, good people hold on and go about their business and raise good families who prosper and make change. It’s not as simple as 12:51’s stupid, racist statement, and he/she knows it.
We walked a good ways down Flatbush one day in that very area, and it was gritty, but we also found it very vibrant and interesting. People were completely polite and nice to us. Remember, just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s bad. Plus if we’re complaining about bad tacky stores, that kind of blight applies to ALL of Flatbush from beginning to end, even where it runs right on past Park Slope at the Atlantic Center. At least NYC recognizes that now and has said they’ll improve Flatbush. Hopefully restoring this theater stays on their list of tasks to accomplish in that overall goal.
Maybe turn it into a police station?
Or homeless shelter?
Methadone Clinic??
here comes the liberal white guilt…defending shitty neighborhoods so not to defend the “colored”
lets face it…poor black/latino folk have no taste and ruin everything they touch..including once beautiful neighborhoods