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A landmarked Upper West Side movie theater that has been vacant for nearly two decades may soon be returned to its former glory—as long as its buyers can raise $7 million by the end of the year. As reported by the New York Times, the nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center on Friday announced it reached a deal with the current owners of the Metro Theater, located on Broadway near 99th Street, to purchase the theater, contingent on securing the required funds.
Led by Ira Deutchman, an independent film producer, and Adeline Monzier, a film consultant, the nonprofit was formed with the goal of creating a new facility dedicated to screening art film releases and classic films, as well as special events. The plan including restoring the facade and marquee and building a five-screen cinema.
The group also highlighted the closure of two long-standing neighborhood theaters—the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and the Landmark 57—to emphasize the need for cinemas in the area. Currently, there are only three full-time art house screens and one part-time screen north of 14th Street, compared to over 20 such screens in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The facility would also include an education and community center and a lobby lounge and cafe open to the public and available for special events.
Deutchman says that funding has already been pledged for one-third of the sale price. The group aims to raise the remainder with a mix of philanthropic support from major donors, government financing, and individual contributions from current and former Upper West Side residents, according to the Times.
If the nonprofit secures the $7 million, it will need to raise additional funds for restoration, estimated between $15 and $25 million.
The property is owned by the estate of owner Albert Bialek, who died last year.
Constructed in 1933 as the Midtown Theater, the 10,260-square-foot Art Deco building was designated a city landmark in 1989. Designed by Russell M. Boak and Hyman Paris, it stands out for its “vertical emphasis, multi-colored materials, patterned brick, and terracotta ornament based on abstract forms,” according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The building’s most recognizable feature is its 50-foot-wide Art Deco facade and metal marquee that hang on the east side of Broadway between 99th and 100th Streets.
The theater was nearly purchased several times before being gutted in 2005, with movie chain Alamo Drafthouse nearly buying the property before backing out of the deal in 2013. According to Yimby, since its establishment, the space has housed an art-house cinema, two national movie chains, and a pornographic theater. Other potential buyers have included Planet Fitness and Urban Outfitters.
Most recently, plans to open a high-end dine-in cinema, funded in part by Alamo, first announced in 2022 failed this past April.
The group Friends of Metro Theater has been advocating for the restoration of the theater since the start of the pandemic. As many of the shops and restaurants were forced to close, the group advocated for the purchase of the building which could then be restored to revitalize the community.
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