Washington Heights' United Palace Gains Landmarks Designation

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — An iconic cultural institution in Washington Heights took a step toward becoming an official city landmark Tuesday after waiting on a backlog for decades.

The United Palace Theatre, which occupies an entire city block between West 175th and 176th streets and Broadway and Wadsworth Avenue, was one of 10 buildings granted landmark designation Tuesday by the city Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC). The buildings were landmarked as part of an LPC push to address a backlog of more than 90 sites placed on the Commission’s calendar for more than two decades.

As of Tuesday the LPC has designated 27 sites from its backlog.

"I am thrilled that through this ambitious and unprecedented effort, we have granted full landmark protection to 27 outstanding properties, and cut through a 50-year backlog in a matter of 18 months," said Commission Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan. "We’re very proud that the designated properties are from all five boroughs and represent a diverse array of building typologies, including early residences, institutional buildings, churches, a theater—even an iconic sign. This is a great day for preservation in New York City!"

The United Palace was constructed throughout the 1920s and finished in 1932 to be a "Wonder Theater" for the Loews movie chain, according to an LPC fact sheet. The theater was one of three designed for Loews by architect Thomas W. Lamb, one of the top theater architects at the time, and features an "exuberant, eclectic style, adapting decorative elements from both Hindu and Islamic cultural traditions," according to the LPC.

Today the United Palace serves as a non-denominational house of worship, a cultural center and a theater and event venue.

Now that the LPC has voted to extend landmarks designation to United Palace the LPC will send final reports for the designation to the City Council, City Planning Commission and City Clerk's Office. The City Planning Commission will have 60 days to provide the City Council a report detailing the effects that the landmark will have on zoning, city development plans and other relevant details, according to the LPC website.

The City Council will have 120 days following the LPC vote to modify or deny the landmarks designation, according to the LPC website. A majority vote in the council is required to modify or deny a designation and a council vote is not actually required to approve a designation, according to the LPC.

Editor's note: This article was changed to clarify that United Palace was given landmarks designation, not official landmarks status. The City Council will have 120 days to vote whether to deny the landmark.

Photo by Google Maps street view Jan. 2013