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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]


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  1. Why would you refer to this area as ghetto? It is in a commercial/business district. No projects. No tenements. Single Family homes owned by hardworking people. Sears, Old Navy, Staples and a clean Stop ‘n Shop. All with free parking. Lots of foot traffic low crime along the Flatbush cooridor. Just because the businesses don’t cater to your needs doesn’t make it ghetto.
    If the theatre is restored and made sometype of cultural arts center people will come. Especially if its focus is the performing and visual arts of the African diaspora. Caribbean/African American/ Afro-Latino

  2. Well, if they could preserve the original details, a multiplex is probably the only economically viable solution. Something like the Empire 25. Though it would be the most awesome art house theater ever, selling 3700 tickets would be a bit much. But why not make it a performing arts center, like Radio City, or the Beacon?

  3. maybe if that area wasn’t so ghetto, there would be more of an incentive to fix up the place..

    its isnt exactly a great location for indie/art films and the like, which i see as the only use for vintage theaters

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