Today's New York Times reveals that the National Black Theater at 125th Street and Fifth Avenue is in the process of foreclosure:
LINK. When founder Barbara Ann Teer blocked Applebee's from arriving at the theater's ground floor space a few years back, it was unclear what was going on with the ownership of the 64,000-square-foot building but now the Times reveals a complex business partnership that had formed almost a decade ago. It now turns out that the partners owe $1.8 million in back property taxes which neither have the funds to pay for and thus the sale of the building is looming. What this means for the fate of the revered Harlem institution is still unclear.
Wow -- sad, but I would love to buy the statue on the facade.
ReplyDeleteOy. This is awful. I mean, what's with blue-chip Harlem cultural institutions and financial mismanagement? First Harlem School of the Arts, now this.
ReplyDeleteOf course, HSA got lucky and pulled through. But can NBT?
I remember the huge spa built on the second floor over the café with all these different rooms with hot tubs and whirlpools etc, it seemed like a not well thought out business model at best.
ReplyDeleteCan't say that I'm surprised.
ReplyDeleteNBT used to do comedy shows on the weekends and they haven't done any for years now.
When you have prime performace space on Fifth avenue that nobody ever really uses, something is wrong somewhere. Live entertainment is Harlem's thing.
Lets hope the next set of owners have a more practical mindset. I'm sure somebody could do a better job using the venue to bring in income.
@Vic Vega: Not true that nobody uses this space. I live nearby and have been to several performances which were well-attended, including a touching musical about Billie Holliday and a reading of "For Colored Girls..." which included sn original cast member and an appearance by the writer. This is sad.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping they might expand and buy the Baptist Church down the street. It would make a nice pairing for live music and theater. Guess not. valgb is correct. We can only hope that the performance space is saved and gets even more usage.
ReplyDeletewish i knew what to do to help. if anyone comes up with anything, please let me know because there must be something that we all can collectively do to turn this situation around.
ReplyDeletemarais morris
clauzel2004@gmail.com