4 DECEMBER 7, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Ridgewood
Theatre
gym
plan tops
December
Board
5 meet
A public hearing on the proposed
opening of a gym
at the former Ridgewood
Theatre tops the agenda at the
December meeting of Community
Board 5.
As announced by District Manager
Gary Giordano, the session
takes place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday
night, Dec. 13, in the cafeteria
of Christ the King High School,
located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave.
in Middle Village.
The meeting will include a
public hearing on a Board of
Standards and Appeals application
submitted by Rothkrug
Rothrkug & Spector LLP on behalf
of Theatre Building Enterprises
LLC for a special permit to allow
a physical culture establishment/
gym at the former theatre located
at 55-27 Myrtle Ave. The gym
would be located in portions of
the cellar and fi rst fl oor of the
structure, which was recently
redeveloped as a mixed-use residential
and commercial space.
The theatre (Block 3451, Lot 7) is
located in a C4-3A zoning district.
(Application code is BSA Cal. No.
2017-294 BZ).
Following the hearing, the
board will commence with its
regular agenda, which includes
a public forum; a review of
liquor license applications and
demolition notices; reports by
Chairperson Vincent Arcuri and
District Manager Giordano; and
committee reports.
Following the meeting, the
board will serve holiday refreshments
and will be gathering
wrapped toys and gift s to be
distributed to young children
(newborn to fi ve years of age)
in low-income families enrolled
at the WIC assistance program
based in Ridgewood. If you’re
bringing a wrapped gift , please
indicate on the wrapper the age
and gender.
For additional information or
to register to speak in advance,
call Board 5 at 718-366-1834.
Cops probe shooting threats made to
Maspeth & Middle Village schools
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@ROBBPOZ
Police and education officials
continue to investigate violent
threats made online last Friday
against schools in Maspeth and Middle
Village, and a potential threat to a
school in Elmhurst.
According to law enforcement
sources, an unidentifi ed Instagram
user issued the threat on Dec. 1 against
three schools in the area: P.S. 58 in
Maspeth; Middle Village Preparatory
Charter School; and “St. Albert’s”
School, which police interpreted to be
a misspelled reference to St. Adalbert
Catholic Academy in Elmhurst.
While authorities did not release
specifi c details about the threat itself,
sources familiar with the investigation
said that the Instagram post
referred to possible shootings at the
three locations.
Offi cers from the 104th Precinct
responded to P.S. 58 and Middle
Village Preparatory Charter School
on Friday aft ernoon and determined
that both campuses were safe. The
110th Precinct similarly checked out St.
Adalbert Catholic Academy and found
no threat to safety.
Nevertheless, the threats prompted
the principals of P.S. 58 and St. Adalbert
Catholic Academy to send home letters
to parents that aft ernoon. Copies of
these letters were provided to QNS.
“We are monitoring the situation and
will continue working closely with the
NYPD to ensure the safety and security
of our building,” P.S. 58 Principal
Adelina Valastro-Tripoli wrote to
parents and staff . “We assure you that
every precaution will continue to be
taken to ensure that our students and
staff will remain safe.”
“There was no imminent danger
to anyone today,” Sister Kathleen
Maciej, principal of St. Adalbert
Catholic Academy, said in her letter
to parents. “The police informed me
File photo
that they would be contacting me on
the procedures they would take to
ensure the safety of everyone. Once
these procedures are made known, I
will share them with you.”
QNS reached out to P.S. 58 and Middle
Village Preparatory for further
comment and is awaiting responses
from both.
“Safety is our top priority and we
are closely monitoring this situation,”
a Department of Education spokesperson
told QNS in a Dec. 4 statement. “The
NYPD is conducting an investigation
and we are providing the school (P.S.
58) with additional safety support.”
The exterior of P.S. 58 in Maspeth
Gym to get a starring role at redeveloped Ridgewood Theatre
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@ROBBPOZ
Ridgewood residents looking
to stay in shape may soon be
able to get in their workouts
at a former movie theater.
Community Board 5 is reviewing
plans for the creation of a “physical
culture establishment” (gym) on the
lower levels of the former Ridgewood
Theatre, located at 55-27 Myrtle Ave.
The building’s owners are seeking
a special permit from the city’s Board
of Standards and Appeals to open
the gym on portions of the fi rst fl oor
and cellar. Sources familiar with the
application told QNS that it will likely
be a Blink Fitness location occupying
14,138 square feet of space.
Blink Fitness has six other locations
in Queens; on its website, the
fi tness chain boasts of providing
customers with a “feel good” experience
featuring motivated, friendly
trainers and music geared toward
keeping you motivated and moving.
According to Community Board
5 District Manager Gary Giordano,
the application notes that between
5,500 and 6,500 regular members
are expected to join the Blink Fitness
Ridgewood location, with as many
as 550 to 650 member visits each day.
Most of the members will likely be
individuals who either live or work
in the Ridgewood area.
The gym’s projected hours of operation
are Monday through Saturday
from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday
from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s also estimated
that 30 employees will work shift s
at the new gym, Giordano added.
Over the last decade, the former
Ridgewood Theatre — featuring
a landmarked facade — has been
transformed from a five-screen
moviehouse into a fi ve-story, mixeduse
building. The owners created
50 apartments on the upper fl oors,
off ering them for rent last year at
sky-high prices.
The transformation also included
a new retail space on the ground
fl oor and cellar, but its future has
File photo
The exterior of the Ridgewood
Theatre
been long debated. Some in the community
had wanted to see the space
used as a performing arts venue
where local artists could showcase
their talents.
Board 5 members will review the
gym application during a public
hearing at its next meeting at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday night, Dec. 13, in the
cafeteria of Christ the King High
School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan
Ave. in Middle Village.
