The Royal Theater--A Royal Mess thanks to Kenny Gamble and Universal Properties

**Gladys** · 06-17-2011, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by MariusPontmercy

I got that, but some people do try and spin that the other way. I did not include you in people.

Well that's true i am definitely not people.

**Lolly** · 06-17-2011, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by dr_gingivitis

Date: Monday, June 20, 2011 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Govinda’s Cafe 1408 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19146 Contact: Marcus Iannozzi 215-546-6496

Universal Companies: Presentation on Plans for the Royal Theater

Universal Companies has promised to make a presentation on their upcoming plans for redeveloping the Royal Theater. (This is a rescheduled presentation from last month.)

I take it this is from the announced agenda for a South Street West Business Association meeting? Are their meetings open to the public?

**SukiLee** · 06-21-2011, 09:06 AM

Interesting write up of the meeting:

Universal to Royally Screw up the Royal | NakedPhilly

**dr_gingivitis** · 06-21-2011, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by SukiLee

Interesting write up of the meeting:

Universal to Royally Screw up the Royal | NakedPhilly

I haven't been able to get on Nakedphilly all week, and this link doesn't work for me either. I assumed it was down, but is it just me having problems?

**gren** · 06-21-2011, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by SukiLee

Interesting write up of the meeting:

Universal to Royally Screw up the Royal | NakedPhilly

I think the Bessie Smith Memorial Parking Space at the Fats Waller Flat would be a stunning tribute to the history of the Royal.

Originally Posted by dr_gingivitis

I haven't been able to get on Nakedphilly all week, and this link doesn't work for me either. I assumed it was down, but is it just me having problems?

Works for me.

**BarryG** · 06-21-2011, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by SukiLee

Interesting write up of the meeting:

Universal to Royally Screw up the Royal | NakedPhilly

I don't see why market-rate housing plus retail is a bad development. I don't like Universal but they are probably right that putting in an entertainment venue is a questionable investment.

The editorial was pretty harsh. It sounds to me like OCF wants another developer to take the risk of putting in an entertainment venue to stoke housing demand in the neighborhood.

I also wonder if structural issues with the building prevent it from being used in it's current configuration. My concern then is then similar to OCF's in that this project may lead to an "oops" moment where the facade needs to go, as well.

**torts** · 06-21-2011, 09:29 AM

Once he's done saving the Royal, he's gonna save PB.

**lbphilly** · 06-21-2011, 09:49 AM

I wonder if any of the reluctance to put in an entertainment venue relates to the NIMBYism the Jerk Hut experienced over the past few years. That said, I don't have a lot of faith in Universal when it comes to the Royal. It seems to me that someone who cared about the musical heritage of this neighborhood would have worked a lot harder to save the place as an entertainment venue.

**Spelt666** · 06-21-2011, 10:05 AM

oh boy market-rate housing, there isn't enough of that in the city

**Coco** · 06-21-2011, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

I don't see why market-rate housing plus retail is a bad development. I don't like Universal but they are probably right that putting in an entertainment venue is a questionable investment.

The editorial was pretty harsh. It sounds to me like OCF wants another developer to take the risk of putting in an entertainment venue to stoke housing demand in the neighborhood.

I also wonder if structural issues with the building prevent it from being used in it's current configuration. My concern then is then similar to OCF's in that this project may lead to an "oops" moment where the facade needs to go, as well.

Didn't Universal get (free) money from the City some years ago to "maintain the structural integrity of the building"?

**Gladys** · 06-22-2011, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Coco

Didn't Universal get (free) money from the City some years ago to "maintain the structural integrity of the building"?

That was my understanding. If they had done so then the place should still be viable.... Don't these places who get grants have some sort of accountability? Oh right. see PHA threads.

**MariusPontmercy** · 06-22-2011, 09:05 AM

Even if you like the thought of market rate housing on that site, the plan is completely ludicrous. He wants to shear off the back of the building to put in the housing while retaining the facade. If that can even be done without the whole structure coming down, it would still need special permission to go ahead because the building is a historic site. You might argue that an experienced demolition crew/contractor could do it, and maybe it can be done, but to me this sounds like something the Universal rep made up beforehand to deflect the criticism people are having with Universal sitting on the property and letting it rot. Remember, they've had "plans" for this place all along, which have so far amounted to them letting it collapse through neglect, so I doubt anything comes of this plan either.

**Lolly** · 06-22-2011, 10:33 AM

From what I hear, Toll Brothers didn't start seriously looking at restoring the historic buildings at Naval Square until the City took them to court for Demolition by Neglect...

**Coco** · 06-22-2011, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Lolly

From what I hear, Toll Brothers didn't start seriously looking at restoring the historic buildings at Naval Square until the City took them to court for Demolition by Neglect...

Nobody's gonna mess with Kenny - he has friends in all the right places!

**ambiguator** · 06-22-2011, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Coco

Nobody's gonna mess with Kenny - he has friends in all the right places!

It's this kind of attitude that keeps these kinds of things in their sorry, stagnant state.
Call your reps, people!
Send them emails every day!
Go to council meetings and make your voice heard!
Go to SSWBA and SOSNA meetings and tell them how you feel!

Whining about how many friends some dolt has on some online forum is not helping anything.

**phillyfanatic** · 06-22-2011, 09:32 PM

Normally, I am all for historic preservation, but it's time for the Royal to be demolished to make way for modern structures. There is very little left to save of the building at this point and I agree with Universal that it would not work financially to restore the building as an entertainment venue. The Boyd, even in an incredible location, with much more of its structure still intact, has now sat empty for a decade. Believe me, I hate Universal, but it's time to put the past aside and let them develop this property.

**ArcticSplash** · 06-22-2011, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by phillyfanatic

Normally, I am all for historic preservation, but it's time for the Royal to be demolished to make way for modern structures. There is very little left to save of the building at this point and I agree with Universal that it would not work financially to restore the building as an entertainment venue. The Boyd, even in an incredible location, with much more of its structure still intact, has now sat empty for a decade. Believe me, I hate Universal, but it's time to put the past aside and let them develop this property.

LOL they won't develop anything even if the structure was demolished already, that's the whole point.

And there's already vacant lots surrounding the structure which Universal already owns. They're actually increasing the blight there, not reducing it. They need to unload these properties on to the market and give them to somebody else to do something with them.

**devilspocket** · 06-22-2011, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by ambiguator

It's this kind of attitude that keeps these kinds of things in their sorry, stagnant state.
Call your reps, people!
Send them emails every day!
Go to council meetings and make your voice heard!
Go to SSWBA and SOSNA meetings and tell them how you feel!

Whining about how many friends some dolt has on some online forum is not helping anything.

You may not be aware that Coco has been an activist in this community probably for more years than you have been alive.

I wish you luck in putting pressure on politicos to thwart Kenny Gamble.

**Coco** · 06-23-2011, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by devilspocket

You may not be aware that Coco has been an activist in this community probably for more years than you have been alive.

I wish you luck in putting pressure on politicos to thwart Kenny Gamble.

Thank you, Devilspocket! That said, I applaud the enthusiasm and vigor of our young people. New ideas and new approaches are good and should be put out there, evaluated by us all and put to the test. Perhaps we can have a "SWCC Spring"!

PS: Mind you, I just had a cognac when I wrote this!

**lbphilly** · 06-23-2011, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by devilspocket

You may not be aware that Coco has been an activist in this community probably for more years than you have been alive.

I wish you luck in putting pressure on politicos to thwart Kenny Gamble.

Judging from today's Inquirer article, I suspect there are a lot of folks in the neighborhood who were only gleams in their parents' eyes when you and a few others moved here, too. The only person I'm aware of who ever fought Kenny Gamble and won was Carl Greene. Do we want to ask him to help?