Plan for Boyd Theater property gets a 'no'
The Historical Commissions architectural committee denied owner Pearl Properties' application for construction, but its not the end of the line.
ADMIRERS OF the historic Boyd Theatre haven't let it go down without a fight, and neighbors aren't letting anything new go up without one either.
The fight carries on after the architectural committee of the Historical Commission denied the proposed plan yesterday for the property on Chestnut Street near 19th. Plans are still up in the air until the full commission votes on the project June 12.
Current owner Pearl Properties intends to build a residential tower, retail and restaurant spaces, and an underground parking structure while maintaining some of the structure of the 1920s-era theater.
Committee chairwoman Dominique Hawkins said the application lacked specifics on the materials proposed for a section of the design. Other members were concerned with whether the design plans fit the neighborhood.
Pearl representatives declined to comment after the meeting.
Members of activist group Friends of the Boyd opposed the insertion of new windows in place of the original Art Deco ones, but generally spoke favorably of the plan.
"I think the developer is actually trying to come up with something that is going to benefit the community, and with some changes to their plans, I think it could be a great benefit," said Howard Haas, the group's president.
The group wants the developers to alter plans to use the Sansom Street-facing foyer as a loading dock.
Hawkins reminded attendees that the Historical Commission only has jurisdiction over the exterior of the building.
"Friends of the Boyd would prefer for the beautiful foyer to remain intact," Haas said. "It's one of the few areas that could survive the demo of the auditorium."
Neighbor Richard Gross called for developers to collaborate with and solicit input from community members. "We want development on this site, just don't want this development," he said.
Former owner Live Nation was granted economic hardship by the Historical Commission in March 2014 when plans were set to demolish everything but the facade and build a movie theater. That plan never panned out and the current owners bought the property in October for $4.5 million.
The auditorium seating area and ceiling of the theater currently are exposed on the Sansom Street side after partial demolition that began in March.