WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The United Palace Theater's owners announced they’re “seeking to overturn” the decision to landmark the building, even though that process isn't finished, and are calling on the community to support them.
Xavier Eikerenkoetter, president of the United Palace, appeared before Community Board 12 Tuesday night and said his family purchased the United Palace almost 50 years ago, “saved it from demolition, refurbished it and restored it.”
“I think it’s unfair. I think it’s too Draconian that a government agency can inject itself into our business and into our service, over our heads and against our wishes,” Eikerenkoetter said. “Where is the democratic process here? I have not seen it. We have not been a part of this process?”
But the Land Use Chair, Wayne Benjamin, said the designation process for the United Palace has been ongoing for decades, and urged the community not to be “misled” or “fooled.”
“There is nothing happening all of a sudden on this,” Benjamin said. “For 46 years, this has been an ongoing discussion.”
The 85-year-old Palace was among the hundreds of buildings that had languished for decades among the LPC's backlogged applications, and finally received landmark designation last month.
Benjamin said the board passed a resolution in 2015 supporting a proposed historic designation, and that at the time Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez appeared before the board and expressed support for the designation.
As of early 2016, however, Rodriguez flipped his support and said he opposed the efforts, stating it was unfair to single out the Palace as the only landmark site when there are other locations in Washington Heights worthy of the designation.
CB12 again passed a resolution Tuesday night not just restating its support for the landmark designation of the United Palace, but also urging Rodriguez to support the designation again.
Rodriguez told the board he has been talking to the owner of the United Palace.
“I would be paying attention to any decision you make, but I’m also waiting to meet with the owner to see what is the plan that he has in place to continue expanding the community space for the local cultural group in our community,” Rodriguez said.
Eikerenkoetter said the United Palace is willing to work with the community in finding others solutions to preserve the space, including registering as a historical site and “give a guarantee that under our watch the building will not be demolished.”
Also, if in the future there is a transfer of ownership, then at that time “landmark could then come in and give it a stamp to ensure the United Palace can continue in perpetuity.”
“Please come to the United Palace, and come to understand what we’re about and the work that we’re doing,” Eikerenkoetter said. “We put our heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into taking care of this place.”
The landmarks vote now rests with the City Council, which can modify or revoke the decision, or allow it to automatically go before Mayor Bill de Blasio for approval.
