The embattled Royal Theater will take center stage again next week when Universal Companies meets with the South of South Neighbors Association and the South Street West Business Association to discuss the history of Universal's relationship with the Royal Theater. The building, which has been the center of a brewing controversy, is clearly in a state of disrepair, and its fate currently hangs in the balance.
Universal Companies bought the Royal Theater from the Philadelphia Preservation Alliance with the understanding that the theater would be restored. Universal Companies was also awarded a grant of $50,000 from the PA State Historic Commission, which came with a covenant on the land stipulating that changes to the building need to be approved by the historic commission.
Last spring, a neighbor of the property filed a petition to award a conservatorship of the historic property to Ori Feibush, the controversial developer behind OCF Realty. Mr. Feibush released a plan for the property which would involve significant change to the property. Around the same time, Universal Companies released their plan for the Royal Theater, which included significant demolition and a parking lot.
Since then, it's been mostly quiet on the Royal Theater front, but next Monday, more information just might come to light.
Updated with information from the South of South Neighbors Associaton
· All Royal Theater Posts [Curbed Philly]
· Royal Theater Public Meeting - Discussing History and Next Steps with Universal Companies [SOSNA]