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RKO Keith's Flushing Theater
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RKO Keith's Theater c.1995
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For more than 15 years, the former RKO Keith's Theater has been at the center of continuing controversy in the Flushing community. The Keith's, a 3000-seat landmarked atmospheric theater, built in 1927 in a Spanish-Moorish style, was bought in 1985 by Thomas Huang, a self-styled developer who proceeded to demolish portions of the landmarked interior. In the ensuing 15 years, Mr. Huang, now a convicted felon for creating an environmental hazard in the basement of the building by emptying 10,000 gallons of heating oil into the water table, has done everything in his power to hold up any kind of development plan that would benefit the community. The Koch, Dinkins and Giuliani administrations have been reluctant to seize the Keith's from Mr. Huang, even during long periods of time when he failed to pay New York City real estate taxes on the building. The Keith's has become one of the most infamous cases in New York City where the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Buildings Department, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Taxation and Finance have all been unable or unwilling to be proactive and remove Mr. Huang from control of the Keith's.
The RKO Keith's used to be the glory of Flushing - and it can be again if the proper steps are taken. I support the seizing of this most important property by New York City from Mr. Huang, and the clean-up and restoration of the building for legitimate theater and /or a performing arts high school.
Go back to PLANS FOR A BETTER FLUSHING |
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