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Building renovation

Uptown Film Center to Revitalize Historic Theater with 5 Screens and $29 Million Capital Campaign

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The long-abandoned Metro Theater on Manhattan's Upper West Side will be reborn as the Uptown Film Center, a state-of-the-art cinema featuring five screens and approximately 470 seats. The nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center, led by independent film producer Ira Deutchman, has embarked on a $29 million capital campaign to renovate the theater, with the aim of opening its doors to moviegoers by early 2028. The renovation will include the restoration of the building's iconic pink terra-cotta facade to its original 1933 appearance, and the installation of new screens, a marquee, and a lobby.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Uptown Film Center will feature five screens, including one with 185 seats, another with 150 seats, and three with approximately 45 seats each.
  • The renovation will require a $29 million capital campaign, with $5 million to be raised by the end of the year and construction expected to begin in 2027.
  • The nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center has secured grants from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Senate, as well as private donations from organizations such as the Hearthland Foundation.
  • The renovation will include the restoration of the building's original facade and the installation of new screens, a marquee, and a lobby.
  • The theater's name change was not without challenge, with Deutchman stating that selecting a new name was "not easy" and ultimately settling on Uptown Film Center to highlight the theater's location.
  • The Upper West Side Cinema Center has plans to offer a variety of films, including 70-millimeter showings, as part of its programming.

Statistics:

  • The Uptown Film Center will have a total seating capacity of approximately 470 seats.
  • The transformation of the Metro Theater will require a $29 million capital campaign.
  • The nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center has secured $3.5 million in grants from Gov. Kathy Hochul and $500,000 from the State Senate.
  • The theater's facade will be restored to its original 1933 appearance.
  • 70-millimeter showings will be offered as part of the theater's programming.

Sources:

  • "Uptown Film Center to Rise from the Ruins of the Metro Theater,With Five Screens and a $29M Redevelopment Plan" (The New York Times)

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