Ridgewood Theatre

55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood, NY 11385

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Showing 701 - 725 of 2,835 comments

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on February 19, 2009 at 1:38 am

Thank you for your kind words on my efforts! I extend my thanks to you as well, on the basis of your role in furthering the preservation ethic for this gem. I couldn’t have done it without all of you!

Individual Landmark status would only apply to the facade. Interior Landmarks are a separate category of landmark status, and by law, have to be open to the public for a period of time to be designated a landmark, and remain easily accessible.

The calendar date for a public hearing will be revealed by the LPC at a later time.

EcRocker
EcRocker on February 18, 2009 at 6:41 pm

Luis i guess we will have to wait and see. Right now Ridgewood jumped it’s first hurdle. Lets hope it gets to the finish line.

The only thing not listed in the LPC link is when the calander date will be.

Michael your efforts have started to pay off. Congrats.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on February 18, 2009 at 3:48 pm

The press release doesn’t note that the landmark designation is only for the facade. Is it, in fact, for the whole theater?

Panzer65
Panzer65 on February 18, 2009 at 10:34 am

Great quote Peter, you should be at that land marking meeting with that one!

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on February 18, 2009 at 6:03 am

Press Release from the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission:

Five Designation Proposals Calendared for Public Hearings -
The Landmarks Commission today voted to formally consider the designations of West Park Presbyterian Church, Fort Washington Presbyterian Church and Audubon Park Historic District in Manhattan; RIDGEWOOD THEATRE in Queens, and Brooklyn Union Gas Co. Building in Brooklyn.

The press release in its entirety is as follows:
View link

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on February 18, 2009 at 6:00 am

Thank you! That would be a great idea. If the Ridgewood Theatre is proposed for the NY State Historic Preservation Office’s “State & Nat'l Register of Historic Places,” and is deemed eligible for listing by a professional SHPO regional surveyor, it would be the owner’s option to support it and apply for tax credits &/or matching grants, which would be advantageous in restoring and upgrading the exterior and interior features, while respecting the theater’s overall historic integrity. The website which includes links to various options is http://nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/grants/index.htm In this case, the SHPO regional representative is Virginia Bartos: .ny.us & (518) 237-8643 ext. 3256.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 17, 2009 at 10:43 pm

Glad you liked it, LuisV, and didn’t think it was forced or corny !

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on February 17, 2009 at 10:30 pm

Great quote Peter K!!!!!!! I like it!

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 17, 2009 at 10:16 pm

… so that, cinema of the people, for the people, and by the people of a neighborhood, and a community, does not perish from the face of New York City.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 17, 2009 at 10:15 pm

Also, not to compare the fate of the Ridgewood Theatre with the fate of the USA after the Civil War, but, how many minutes did it take Abraham Lincoln to deliver his immortal Gettysburg Address ?

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 17, 2009 at 10:13 pm

No offense, taken, LuisV. Please feel free to be cute. I’ve always enjoyed the good humor on these CT pages. Yes, here’s to said person … Michael Perlman, perhaps.

Yes, ECR, it IS like a court arraignment, because, though the Ridgewood Theatre has done nothing wrong, except, of course, fail to make money for its owners, it’s as though it’s on trial for its life here.

EcRocker
EcRocker on February 17, 2009 at 10:06 pm

I guess you can compare this to an arriegnment in court when they ask forguilty or not guilty plea. In this case lets hope it was a resounding YES.

I hope they decide and take action soon.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on February 17, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Yes, Peter, of course….I was being cute Please forgive me. I do believe that the case can be made, as you said, by the right person using the right words with a certain persuassive passion that will convince the board of the merits of landmarking the facade. Here’s to that person!!!!

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 17, 2009 at 9:26 pm

Much that is important can be said in five minutes by the right person, with the needed eloquence, conviction and passion.

Let us all hope for the best.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on February 17, 2009 at 8:54 pm

Hey ECR. I thought you were being sarcastic with your “5 minute” comment, but sure enough….there it is….. 9:30-9:35! :–)
I guess that’s enough time to say that the facade is darn pretty and we should keep it!

EcRocker
EcRocker on February 17, 2009 at 8:44 pm

Well I hope we hear something soon. This will be a big step. lets hope in that small 5 minute block of time they will give it the calendar date it deserves.

Good Luck Michael

PUBLIC MEETING ITEM NO.1
TIME: 9:30-9:35 A.M.
LP-2325
Staff: G.K.
ITEM PROPOSED FOR CALENDARING
RIDGEWOOD THEATER. 55-27 Myrtle Avenue, Queens.
Landmark Site: Borough of Queens Tax Map Block 3451 Lot 7 in part

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 17, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Thanks for the good news, Mike.

I walked by the Ridgewood Theatre the morning of Friday February 13th 2009. No change in its appearance since I had last walked by on Friday January 16th 2009.

MPol
MPol on February 17, 2009 at 2:31 pm

LuisV—I get the message. Thanks.

Everybody else: It’s great to hear that the Ridgewood theatre is being landmarked. All the best.

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on February 17, 2009 at 5:40 am

Great News!!! On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission will make a motion to calendar the Ridgewood Theatre’s facade. This is the first step, and then comes a public hearing at a later date, followed by a motion to designate the theater an Individual Landmark. Testimony will be taken during a future public hearing. Stay tuned!

View link

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on February 17, 2009 at 5:12 am

Paid a quick visit earlier today. The theater remains totally empty – and rather well maintained – with no “for sale” signs evident. Everything seems normal – except that the marquee is blank and the entrance blocked off by the steel gate. The whole place has a very eerie quality about it.

MPol
MPol on February 11, 2009 at 2:04 am

Sorry, LuisV. It’s a bit hard for me to go through all of the posts here on the Ridgewood Theatre thread, since there are oh so many of them.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on February 10, 2009 at 7:35 pm

For the umpteenth time…..the Alabamans are NOT purchasing this theater. Please read all of the above posts. Well, not all of them. For the Ridgewood, that wouldprobably take a week. Just the last 30 or so!

MPol
MPol on February 10, 2009 at 6:10 pm

Upon hearing that the same couple from Birmingham, AL. who bought the Cheyenne Diner and have now shown an interest in possibly purchasing the Ridgewood Theatre, I thought, (but didn’t say)Not a good omen.

Bway
Bway on February 10, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Native Forest Hillers, the comma got stuck in your url, so I am reposting your link here:

http://www.myspace.com/ridgewoodtheatre

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on February 10, 2009 at 5:48 am

Thank you very much, John, and all enthusiasts who have supported the Ridgewood Theatre cause, and signed the petition in support of landmarking the facade and theater lobby. The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission says they are interested in calendaring the facade for a public hearing in the near future, which would determine its eligibility as a NYC Individual Landmark. Nothing is official since it is not in writing. Therefore, now is the time to continue advocating for landmark status. Please sign the petition, post a comment, and circulate the link to ALL CONTACTS in your e-mail address book: View link The LPC said they may consider the theater lobby once the theater is open for a certain time period. Interior Landmarks must be open by law, when first designated.

Also, routinely check www.myspace.com/ridgewoodtheatre, which has been updated. It is likely it will continue showing films.