By Lev D. Zilbermints
NEWARK – Paramount Theatre, located on 195 Market Street in Newark, will not be entirely torn down, “Local Talk” has learned. Rather, the façade and the marquee will be preserved and restored. In this, the second of two articles, “Local Talk” describes the fate of the old Paramount Theatre, which operated from 1886 to 1986.
On August 15, 2022 a Newark CBP hearing took place. Much of the information presented was similar to a previous presentation in September 2021. “Local Talk” located information about the September 2021 hearing on nj.com. What follows is a synthesis of notes from the August 2022 and September 2021 hearings.
According to data presented at the August 15 hearing, the proposal calls for a “Corners at Four Corners” project. This means that a skyscraper-style building will be built where the Paramount Theatre is now. The street façade will be preserved and restored. This is supposed to be 193 Market Street.
Inside the projected building there will be 16 floors. Of these, 80 will be studios, 120 will be one-bedroom, 41 will be two-bedrooms. There will a ground floor level, and 2nd-15th floors. The 16th floor is to be a recreation area, with tennis, and room for groups. There will be four varying shades of gray for the building. Acrylic limestone at set back; dark grey residential; dark bronze retail; and light grey elsewhere.
A vision glass, metal panels at spandrel and cast limestone at street level are projected to be made. Retail signage is projected to be put up, 32 square feet. Of these, 16 square feet will be on the surface. Existing Paramount signs will be retained. Gluck+, Peter Gluck Architecture of New York is in charge of the architecture.
According to Soufrianne El Noussi, “Paramount Theatre and facade will remain during construction and be protected. Sidewalk to be removed and replaced by a 5’5 concrete sidewalk. A new curb and sidewalk to be made, as well as a new concrete walkway. A trench drain is proposed.”
Other existing masonry building are to be demolished and replaced by new mixed-use buildings. Paramount Theatre overhang and façade to remain. There are 16 stories, 240 units. Block 146, lots 35, 37, 38, 55. All this totals 28,794 feet.
Plans are in place for parking. The proposal calls for 41 parking spaces. Of these, regular spaces make up 33 spots; emergency vehicles, 6 spots; and ADA or handicapped parking, 2 spots. Also, 120 bike storages are proposed for Beaver Street. The Harmon Group of New York is the Structural Engineer in charge. MEP / Civil Engineer is Inglese Architecture and Engineering, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
According to a September 8, 2021 article online nj.com, “although the interior of the theatre itself is not salvageable, the historic façade with its notable marquee will be stabilized and fully restored”, reads a presentation by Gluck+. “The remaining frontage will include a newly built contextual façade in keeping with the materiality and dynamic rhythm of Market Street.”
Initially, two applications were submitted. One called for the demolition of Paramount Theatre, while the other called for preservation and proposed construction.
According to the September 8, 2021 article, “The proposed building is a 14-story residential tower sitting on a two-story podium for commercial and retail use and is 189 feet in height,” the second application stated. It noted that there were plans for 241 residential units and 57,000 square feet of space. Twenty percent of the units are to be “affordable” according to the Newark CBP August 15 hearing.
According to the September 8, 2021 article, the first application proposes demolition at 193-195, 197, and 199-201 Market Street, along with 12 Beaver Street, stating in part that the interior of the old theater is “currently unstable and dangerous.”
“Local Talk” reported in its September 2 issue that part of the roof had fallen in. The website cinematreasures.com has photographs of the Paramount Theatre’s interior. It would be possible to salvage all of it, but the expenses incurred would be astronomical.
“The Paramount is being redeveloped by RBH. It is my understanding that they will be keeping the facade and demolishing everything else. It does reside in the 4 corners historic district and is protected by Landmark status,” said Matt Gosser, a professor of architecture at NJIT.
“Local Talk” contacted all the architectural and engineering firms involved in construction. As of press time, none have responded to questions.
One commission member was not convinced that the proposal to build new buildings around the old Paramount Theatre was sound.
Dan Becht warned, “Risky. A lot of the stuff we do today will come back to haunt us.”
Only time will tell if Mr. Becht’s warning will come true or not.
