United Artists plans to do something with the Lynbrook Theater. They're just not saying what at the moment.
The theater chain has taken a step toward clearing the way for change at the movie house. They have evicted one of their two remaining tenants, Theater Workshop, owned by Adam Schaap. Lynbrook village and commerce officials have long embraced the idea of a renovated movie theater that would bring people into the downtown shopping district in the evening, but the loss of a community cultural arts center is also at hand.
UA announced plans to expand its Lynbrook facility to a 12-screen theater several years ago. But the theater chain declared bankruptcy in September of last year. Lynbrook buildings superintendent Louis Bello said the village has yet to receive any building plans. And UA has made no formal announcement as to the future of the existing 100-year-old building.
"These plans are required in order to receive a building permit, but at this time, we haven't even received preliminaries," he said. "We expect them to be submitted within the year." Representatives from UA's Real Estate division would not comment on the renovation plans.
Theater Workshop, which has operated out of space in that building leased from UA, has done so for most of that time without a lease. "I'm doing it because the community says they want it. I took home only 12 paychecks last year, but I'm satisfied personally," owner Adam Schaap said last Friday, while entertaining about 90 youngsters from Head Start in Far Rockaway.
"UA basically said to me, we're going to be declaring bankruptcy, we're not going to be doing anything." Schaap claims he then spent $50,000 on renovations. Tenants later received a Chapter 11 reorganization notice that declared all leases null and void. Schaap spoke to Scott Hall, UA's real estate agent, just over a month ago.
"He said, we plan on doing something with the building, but nothing immediate. Five days later, I received a certified 30-day notice."
A representative of the only remaining tenant, Pugatch Realty, says that the realtor has not received an eviction notice.
Schaap has received no sympathy from local business owners, who consider the movie-theater renovations to be the cornerstone of Lynbrook's downtown revitalization. Others claim he had not paid rent since foreclosure moves were made last September.
According to Harry Levitt, owner of Mur-Lees, former Chamber of Commerce president and current president of the Lynbrook Business Improvement District, discussions to expand the theater were initiated by the Village and Chamber officials about four years ago. Tim Tarpley, UA's Real Estate development manager, then began to investigate further into possible renovations about three years ago, and discussed the matter with Lynbrook Mayor Eugene Scarpato and village trustees.
"As Chamber president at the time, I was invited to these discussions," said Levitt. "We were shown architectural drawings, which were wonderful." Levitt said these talks were held every two to three months throughout 1999.
"He knew five years ago that this was going to happen. He took a bet and he lost," said Harry Levitt, owner of Mur-Lee's Men's Shop, former Chamber of Commerce president and current president of the Lynbrook Business Improvement District. "UA filed Chapter 11 to restructure themselves. It's a shame, but as a business owner renting month to month, he sat back when he should have taken control of his business and put more effort into his search."
"A new movie theater is the centerpiece for the area's overall economic development plans," said Bill Gaylor, owner of Lyn Gift Shop, Lyn House of Flowers and president of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce. "The matter is unfortunate, but when you operate without a lease, you always run the risk of being put out. The law is the law."
Lynbrook Mayor Eugene Scarpato called the matter a private issue.
"It's sad, because Theater Workshop has been there for so many years. He had plenty of time to find another good location," he said.
