The long-delayed plans for RKO Keith’s Theater in Flushing have been approved by Community Board 7 after years of the property passing through the hands of multiple developers.
Board members unanimously passed a motion at the monthly board meeting Monday night approving developer JK Equities’ revised plan for the historic theater at 135-35 Northern Blvd. in Flushing. The company’s reworked blueprint increased the building’s height and reduced the number of rental units and parking spaces.
Chuck Apelian, CB 7’s first vice chairman and chairman of the land use committee, said the board has previously asked for a movie theater to be built in downtown Flushing, but to no avail. “We don’t have any development plans in front of us,” Apelian said. “I don’t have anybody standing here with the money to build the theater. The way it’s gone, it went from developer to developer to developer at this point. I can’t change that.”
He was momentarily interrupted by Jerry Rotondi, a member of the Committee to Save the RKO Keith’s Theater in Flushing, who insisted that plans were presented to save the theater.
Historic preservationists were staunchly opposed to the plan. In a statement, the Committee to Save the RKO Keith’s criticized former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman for not supporting the theater.
“We could have had a restored showcase theater,” said Cheshire Frager, a member of the committee.
Michael Donnelly, a New York City District Council of Carpenters representative, said the developer has not made a commitment to quality construction jobs.
“These units will now be marketed to wealthier individuals and contribute to the gentrification of the neighborhood,” Donnelly said. “The absence of a commitment in the development of high-quality construction jobs for the members of the community further enforces this impression.”
Apelian introduced a separate resolution that would consider converting the planned 16,000-square-foot space from a senior center into community facility space.
23 comments:
Where is our OFFICIAL borough historian, as he now calls himself?
He's on paid disability.
What a beautiful picture!! Now that area looks like shit!!
Dr. Jack Eichenbaum's chief interest these days appears to be conducting "historic" tours, for personal profit. There are times that his historical data is flawed. Alas, Queens has its burro historian. BTW...Dr. Jack does not believe landmarking structures is the best way to go. How would Dr. Jack-off's weird opinion apply to the Colliseum in Rome. Would he support landmark status to save it if it were in NYC? He's another aging asshole taken into the fold of borough hall as a decorative "expert" to placate the public. Contrast what Brooklyn has to offer in the way of their borough historian. Queens gets beaten down to third rate a s usual.
The article states: "Apelian introduced a separate resolution that would consider converting the planned 16,000-square-foot space from a senior center into community facility space."
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I don't understand the difference. What can a community facility be used for instead of a senior center? and why is Apelian pushing this conversion?
Queens is looked at a laughing joke to people when of anything of value and importance. This is just another example, middle aged people in charge with the same old mentality of the only place that can have nice things is the suburbs. Just like all other ppl their age moved to stupid suburbs. Restore it, repurpose, make things look better and also build nice things and believe me a different crowd of ppl will come to Queens. People who like nice things and who appreciate and value them. We need new visionaries, positive people not this old thinking and backwards thinking like Apelian, the historian guy and these other clowns.
and why is Apelian pushing this conversion?
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Check out the Queens Chronicle RE the Keith's. It's more juicy than the Times Ledger's piece.
At least we have confidence in Pei Cobb and Freed to do a Class A job of restoring the landmark ticket lobby and grand foyer. I.M. Pei is not one of Tommy Huang's two dollar architects. There is not anything left of the auditorium worth saving anymore. RIP RKO Keith's as a theatre. It had a great run!
It is certainly true that Dr. Eichenbaum's does not believe in landmarking. So why is he borough historian if he doesn't believe in saving the fabric of history? Precisely for that reason. Borough hall is also anti preservation and pro mega development.
That senior center was just a ruse that John Liu wanted to foist on his elderly voting block. It would give him their votes in gratitude . It was a bad idea to begin with...being such a dangerous location for the elderly to travel to.
The partners that Karlick is fronting for are Chinese.
Apelian has been at CB7 too damn long. I think I'll write the director of community boards and DOI to replace him.
Another vertical beehive rises for drones in downtown Flooshing. At this point it is better than looking at a 30th year of decay. Please take note...the theater was allowed to rot by an uncaring pack of crooked politicians and a community board that didn't do much besides cry phony tears. Now we are supposed to be grateful for the scraps we get. Abolish all community boards. They are only toy government.
The Keith's got the KO from CB7!
"...converting the planned 16,000-square-foot space from a senior center into community facility space."
I'm with chucky boy on this one. Try driving on 35th Ave. with vans carrying the mentally and physically disabled oldsters constantly blocking the street by double parking for hours. Can you imagine west bound Northern Blvd. with idiots double parked with impunity?
Why do we need another senior citizen center?
Just build another McDonald's for the Korean seniors to squat in.
The second resolution that CB 7 sent along was to eliminate even a community facility space and fill it with more condos. WTF is the difference anyway? Throw in a few more beehive cells. If somebody buys that $2,000,000 penthouse space, do you think they want any kind of public use of the building? Makes that penthouse a secondary air traffic control space to monitor the planes which will be flying so close overhead.
CB7's Kim Ohanian backed her fellow Armenian Chuck Apelian in voting against a senior center. Does she have the hots for Chuck?
I've seen Asian seniors nurse a cup of Mc Donald's coffee....small size...for over an hour. If they are told they exceeded the 20 minute limit, they scream, "Anti Asian" and get Toby Stavisky and Grace Meng to throw a press conference.
Does Eichenbaum's cruise the YMCA? He lives right next door.
The senior center was going to have to cough up one million plus dollars a year to pay for that space. J&K Equities was not going to give them a freebie. Karlick said so when he corrected Apelian's estimate of $450,000.
There is a lot of deadwood that needs pruning at CB7...Ohanian, Fleishman, Pablo (what's his last name?) etc. They are so full of themselves but rarely contribute anything worthwhile. Then we have the ringmaster..."follow the buck" Cuck Apelian. Clean out that board!
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