Harlem Theater's fate set to be decided in weeks' time.This has been a good month for Harlem--days after final plans were revealed for East River Plaza, a 485,000 s/f retail complex on FDR Drive, word is out that the landmark Victoria Theater is next in line. The Empire State Development Corporation has whittled down the number of developers competing for the project from seven to two and is, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a published report, just a few weeks away from choosing a winning bid. The Victoria Theater, located in the heart of Harlem at W. 125th Street, is a historic performance space that has been used as a movie theater in the 1990's and closed its doors in 1997. Last year, in an attempt to redevelop re·de·vel·op v. re·de·vel·oped, re·de·vel·op·ing, re·de·vel·ops v.tr. 1. To develop (something) again. 2. the property into a mixed-use cultural and hotel center, the ESDC ESDC Empire State Development Corporation ESDC Extra Segment Descriptor Cache ESDC Extremal Self-Dual Code put out a request for proposals and received responses from some of the biggest developers in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , including Apollo Real Estate Advisers, Thor Equities and the Related Companies. Today, the competition is down to two teams--a joint venture of Extell Development Co. and Victoria Tower Development, who have proposed building a 25-story structure complete with a hotel, a ballroom and a community theater valued at a total of $115 million, and Danforth Development Partners, who plan for a mixture of various cultural uses and an Ian Schrager Ian Schrager is a hotelier and real-estate developer. Schrager began his career as a nightclub owner. In 1977 he partnered with Steve Rubell, his fraternity brother from Syracuse University, in launching the New York City discothèque Studio 54. hotel that would cost $113 million. According to a source involved in the bidding process, ESDC's goal was to create a project that would compliment other developments on W. 125th Street instead of competing with them. Depending on who ends up winning the bid, Victoria Theater might become the new home for the Harlem School of the Arts School of the Arts is the name of several schools (usually high schools) that are devoted to the fine arts, including:
The developers will also have to work around some preservation issue, including saving as much of the original design as possible. Researchers believe that the interior of the building contains wall murals that were concealed con·ceal tr.v. con·cealed, con·ceal·ing, con·ceals To keep from being seen, found, observed, or discovered; hide. See Synonyms at hide1. from view when the Victoria was made into a movie theater. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion