Thanks for all this great information on this site. Update: the building has been sold to a developer and work is scheduled to begin or has begun: the building will be demolished for a high rise structure, a combination of residential and commercial use. The way the furniture store was able to incorporate the previous historic structure and architecture stalled this fate. As commenters said, this will not be a theatre again unless some last minute miracle occurs. Had the building ever been applied for landmark status? (There are a lot of comments here so I am not sure if this was addressed.)
The photos inside and some of the wall ornaments (as shown here: http://abandonednyc.com/2015/01/14/inside-the-loews-46th-st-theater/) would be so great to preserve.
A friend is trying to help as there are bird nests around the building with baby pigeons in them – the contractor said they would let her and wildlife rescue groups rescue the babies before demolition but ideally these birds would be allowed to fledge – a few more weeks and be ready to leave the nest – and then the destruction would take place (if there is no way to stop that, at least prevent the bird lives from being taken). It is much more complicated otherwise – wildlife rehabilitators than have to take on the job of raising the birds and families are separated but there are groups and people ready to do this.
This building has such an amazing history and has survived 88 years. It is hard to imagine a lack of appreciation of its history and architecture — but so much of NYC history has been destroyed in an overly aggressive manner over the last dozen years (it accelerated under Michael Bloomberg).
Will everything be a “luxury” glass building — that also kills and disorients migratory and other birds — at the end of the day with no history in this city left? There is some Landmarks Preservation intervention but so much is not being preserved and appreciated: instead we are left with an overly sanitized NYC.
Really, atmos? After all the assurances by owner to passers-by that this would not happen? Sad.
Thanks for all this great information on this site. Update: the building has been sold to a developer and work is scheduled to begin or has begun: the building will be demolished for a high rise structure, a combination of residential and commercial use. The way the furniture store was able to incorporate the previous historic structure and architecture stalled this fate. As commenters said, this will not be a theatre again unless some last minute miracle occurs. Had the building ever been applied for landmark status? (There are a lot of comments here so I am not sure if this was addressed.)
The photos inside and some of the wall ornaments (as shown here: http://abandonednyc.com/2015/01/14/inside-the-loews-46th-st-theater/) would be so great to preserve.
A friend is trying to help as there are bird nests around the building with baby pigeons in them – the contractor said they would let her and wildlife rescue groups rescue the babies before demolition but ideally these birds would be allowed to fledge – a few more weeks and be ready to leave the nest – and then the destruction would take place (if there is no way to stop that, at least prevent the bird lives from being taken). It is much more complicated otherwise – wildlife rehabilitators than have to take on the job of raising the birds and families are separated but there are groups and people ready to do this.
This building has such an amazing history and has survived 88 years. It is hard to imagine a lack of appreciation of its history and architecture — but so much of NYC history has been destroyed in an overly aggressive manner over the last dozen years (it accelerated under Michael Bloomberg).
Will everything be a “luxury” glass building — that also kills and disorients migratory and other birds — at the end of the day with no history in this city left? There is some Landmarks Preservation intervention but so much is not being preserved and appreciated: instead we are left with an overly sanitized NYC.