NYC Landmarks Commission Hears Proposal To Lift Palace Theatre For Retail Space Below

New York City's website, nyc.gov, posts a notice by the New York City Landmarks Commission regarding a public hearing today, November 24th, to consider applications to do construction work on landmark buildings and buildings within historic districts.

Among the proposals on the agenda is one that would not only perform restoration on the Palace Theatre's landmark interior, but actually lift the building 29 feet above the ground to make room for four stories of retail space, three of them below ground level. (Click here for agenda)

The hearing is being held at 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor, in Manhattan with the Palace Theatre proposal being discussed at approximately 2:15PM.

Photos and designs detailing the work proposed by Higgins Quasebarth & Partners LLC and PBDW Architects can be found by clicking here. The image below compares the existing construction of the Palace Theatre with the proposed results.

Featuring a Beaux-Arts style interior with Baroque style detailing designed by Kirchhoff & Rose, The Palace Theatre opened in 1913 and achieved legendary status as the nation's leading vaudeville theatre. "Playing The Palace," meant a vaudeville performer had truly made it. Used as a movie house after the decline of vaudeville, The Palace was then purchased by The Nederlander Organization and converted in to a legitimate Broadway house with the 1966 opening of SWEET CHARITY.