Public Hearing On Pavilion Theater Project Thursday

Developer Hidrock Realty revealed in April that it planned to convert The Pavilion Theater into a 6-story building with 24 condos, a subterranean 16-car garage, and 4 movie screens. The project will also replace the one-story restaurant, formerly Circles, facing Bartel Pritchard Square.

Because the theater is located within the Park Slope Historic District, the plans are subject to community review and approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The first hearing is before the Community Board 6 Landmarks Committee on Thursday, July 23 at 6pm, which will be held at the 78th Precinct at 65 6th Avenue, between Dean and Bergen Streets.

The Park Slope Civic Council has been encouraging residents to attend the hearing and make sure their voices are heard. “Those who live and work in Park Slope and Windsor Terrace should make an effort to ensure that an attractive building is erected on the square that enhances the appearance of this intersection of both communities,” said councilmember John Classon.“It kind of tries to grab attention, and in my view I don’t think that’s what belongs on the circle,” Councilmember Peter Bray, who has seen renderings of the plan, told DNAinfo. “The design is, I think, at odds with the existing residential buildings on the square. I don’t think it’s particularly in context with the theater either.”A spokesperson for Hidrock told DNAinfo the firm “envisions a project that takes into account the unique character of the surrounding neighborhood” and is working with a firm that specializes in historic preservation.

The 14th Street Block Association has requested that the July 23 presentation be postponed until at least September, and that no recommendation be forwarded by CB6 to the LPC until after that meeting.

“We feel that the community surrounding the Pavilion Theater development has not been fully involved by the Community Board about the development and upcoming events like this meeting,” said Michael Padwee, secretary of the Block Association, in a letter to CB6.

After CB6 makes their recommendation, the LPC will receive public testimony on this project at a second public hearing on August 4 at 9:30am at the Manhattan Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor.