Wednesday, August 22, 2012

185 Avenue B is nearly gone

Demolition crews arrived at 185-193 Avenue B on July 25 ... Bobby Williams stopped by yesterday for an update... and there doesn't appear to be much left of the building ...






There are plans pending city approval for a 7-story apartment building that will include community space and the new home for the Elim Pentecostal Church.

The address was a movie theater for many years, first the Bijou in 1926, then the Charles. (The theater closed in 1975, and a church took over the space.) A fire broke out in the building in October 2006.

Here's the Charles in 1966. (Via.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Revival planned for church and theater on Avenue B

Inside the Charles

Former landmark countercultural theater now for rent on Avenue B

7-story building in the works to replace former countercultural theater/church on Avenue B

2 comments:

James C. Taylor said...

So sad. The Charles was the first cinema to screen Andy Warhol's earliest attempts at moviemaking circa 1962. I've spent many evenings staring out the window of Rue B at this building wondering what might become of it. A graffiti-covered relic is preferable to what is to come...

Anonymous said...

HOW CAN WE PROTEST THEM BUILDING TO TWELVE STORIES.
THIS WILL DESTROY THE SKLINE OF AVENUE B AND THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SETS A VERY BAD PRECEDENT.
CAN WE START WITH A PETITION?
WHO DO WE SEND SIGNATURE TO?
SUSAN STETZER? ROSIE MENDEZ?
HELP!!!