I live a stone’s throw from the theater. I’ve been to meetings where Pang attended. She, of course, also owns the Troc in Philly and is looking to open a similar venue in the Westmont. Also in the works are two, count ‘em, two, nightclub/“restaurants” in the plan, to be built adjacent to the theater. In all, 4 bars are planned for the site.
Parking is touted as the big issue — there is none.
However, I think the biggest issue for the neighborhood is that none of the folks that live here want this in our residential neighborhood. No homeowner in their right mind would want 2,000+ partying concert goers, drinking for hours, then drinking some more in the nightclub attached, letting out at 2am, looking for their cars parked on out streets, while peeing on our lawns. What home owner would?
Mayor McCheese has repeatedly stated that this theater would be a low key affair, offering plays for children after Sunday School, but J. Pang herself is quoted in the City Paper, saying “Think Entertainment Complex”.
I know I may sound like a stick-in-the-mud, but my own experiences going to Punk Concerts at the places like the Hot Club, way back when, tells me that this sort of Concept does not belong in an old fashioned neighborhood like the one we live in.
I actually used to make fun of our neighboerhood as “Leave it to Beaver”-ville, when I first moved in 20 some years ago, but after raising a Family here, I have actually came embraced the old fashioned feel of the Place. Children, on an evening ride on their scooters would have to negociate their way past drunken smokers hanging out on Haddon Ave. Is this the experience we want to subject them to on their way to get some Water Ice? I don’t think so.
And I am not alone in my opinion. Classic Rock DJ Michael Tearson, a neighbor directly on the other side of Haddon Avenue, has spoken out against the use of the Westmont Theater as a Rock Venue at at least one of the public meetings that I have been to. He stated that he moved to Haddon Twp for the school system and the addition of such an 'Entertainment Complex" would be detrimental to the neighborhood.
I am all for the rehabiltation of the Westmont Theater. It’s a Great Lady, and it’s history should be Honored and Restored. But Mayor Park and J. Pang are trying to put their big, ugly step-sister foot into the dainty glass slipper that is the Historic Westmont Theater. They must be stopped!
I live a stone’s throw from the theater. I’ve been to meetings where Pang attended. She, of course, also owns the Troc in Philly and is looking to open a similar venue in the Westmont. Also in the works are two, count ‘em, two, nightclub/“restaurants” in the plan, to be built adjacent to the theater. In all, 4 bars are planned for the site.
Parking is touted as the big issue — there is none.
However, I think the biggest issue for the neighborhood is that none of the folks that live here want this in our residential neighborhood. No homeowner in their right mind would want 2,000+ partying concert goers, drinking for hours, then drinking some more in the nightclub attached, letting out at 2am, looking for their cars parked on out streets, while peeing on our lawns. What home owner would?
Mayor McCheese has repeatedly stated that this theater would be a low key affair, offering plays for children after Sunday School, but J. Pang herself is quoted in the City Paper, saying “Think Entertainment Complex”.
I know I may sound like a stick-in-the-mud, but my own experiences going to Punk Concerts at the places like the Hot Club, way back when, tells me that this sort of Concept does not belong in an old fashioned neighborhood like the one we live in.
I actually used to make fun of our neighboerhood as “Leave it to Beaver”-ville, when I first moved in 20 some years ago, but after raising a Family here, I have actually came embraced the old fashioned feel of the Place. Children, on an evening ride on their scooters would have to negociate their way past drunken smokers hanging out on Haddon Ave. Is this the experience we want to subject them to on their way to get some Water Ice? I don’t think so.
And I am not alone in my opinion. Classic Rock DJ Michael Tearson, a neighbor directly on the other side of Haddon Avenue, has spoken out against the use of the Westmont Theater as a Rock Venue at at least one of the public meetings that I have been to. He stated that he moved to Haddon Twp for the school system and the addition of such an 'Entertainment Complex" would be detrimental to the neighborhood.
I am all for the rehabiltation of the Westmont Theater. It’s a Great Lady, and it’s history should be Honored and Restored. But Mayor Park and J. Pang are trying to put their big, ugly step-sister foot into the dainty glass slipper that is the Historic Westmont Theater. They must be stopped!