Recently 3 Bowne High School students sneaked into the Flushing RKO Keith’s
theatre, got caught and posted the whole thing on YouTube. There is no water or
fire protection in the building and there is a tinder box of wooden
"construction offices" abandoned 7 years ago by the developer prior to the
current developer. The FDNY did scope out the building before this incident and
the developer cinder blocked over some of the more obvious entrances for minimal
compliance (after a City Councilman complained), also before this incident, but
a second look may be in order, as they may not appreciate that the building is
still not secure, before someone burns it down. This brings up the question of
how the RKO Keith’s Theatre came to be abandoned and why its replacement with
condominiums or apartments is the only solution offered. Is this something that
Flushing really needs or can absorb?
Most would get behind an effort that is against more congestion, vehicle trips,
traffic light delays and residential building without commensurate
infrastructure. A full account of recent projects or those under construction
have not been given the scrutiny they deserve. Case in point: Sky View Parc.
Furthermore this proposed housing development is right under the LaGuardia
airport landing approach; it is hard to imagine a compelling need for more
housing to the extent that it should ignore obvious noise, habitability and
safety concerns. Then there is the time to construct, estimated at 2.5 to 3
years during which there would be serious impacts to Northern Boulevard traffic
flow. Absent from the push for as of right development are the collateral
impacts of other mega projects, including One Fulton Square, Flushing Commons
and the development of Willets Point. Main St. Flushing already has NYC’s second
highest vehicular traffic after Time Square; the
 Main St. Subway stop last year became NYC’s 10th most crowded station, a first
outside of Manhattan and the only single line stop to achieve that status;
Pedestrian traffic on Main St. was 97,000 per day in a 2007 survey. The maximum
volume for comfortable pedestrian movement is 12 people per minute per yard of
sidewalk width. By that measure, Main Street in Flushing is overcrowded 83
percent of the day. It should be noted that the proposed building on the RKO
site exceeds local zoning standards and is out of character with the
neighborhood but has managed to get waivers for FAR (floor to area ratio),
property setback, parking, bulk, OSR (open space ratio) and occupant density.
The theatre would capture people’s interest if they knew the value and extent of
surviving art and architecture, contrary to the gutted condition advertised.
Part of that valuation has to include the building itself, a massive steel frame
and reinforced concrete structure. It does not need a new foundation and
extensive pile driving into a high water table, near the Flushing River, unlike
what would be required for a residential tower. The LPC originally designated
the entire interior a landmark, while damage has been done, at this point there
is more value in the auditorium than in the still landmarked lobby and foyer,
also suffering from neglect; both areas that would be compromised under the
current plan. That the RKO ever became a reduced landmark in the first place is
due to the well established corruption of a former Borough President,
grandfathering in those actions and applying them to the current status is
defies logic. While Brooklyn enjoys
 the NYCEDC funded $65M restoration of the Loew’s Kings Theatre, Flushing Queens
has fumbled the RKO for 26 years and three consecutive developers with nothing
to show for its patience except demolition by neglect.