“Cultural Contribution” Is Rather Subjective, Isn’t It?

More pining for the bad old days:

It opened in 1916 as a vaudeville theater called the Ideal and closed a few weeks ago as the Playpen, a seedy porno emporium on the ragged rim of Times Square. It now faces the wrecking ball despite a last-minute attempt to rescue it.

With few theaters dating from the early 20th century still in existence, one of Gotham’s oldest “shouldn’t be sacrificed for the sake of progress,” said Michael Perlman, a self-appointed preservationist who wants to keep the building’s Beaux Art facade — with its curved central arch, pilasters, statues and other ornate features — by incorporating it into a new building, or moving it to another location.

This is a “culturally and architecturally significant structure, and we hope to preserve this gem for future generations,” he said.

. . .

. . . [T]here appears little or no chance of [saving] the Playpen, which was doomed when partners headed by Tishman Realty Corp. acquired the property on 8th Avenue at 44th Street in July, reportedly for a new high-rise building. The group said Thursday it was “currently exploring development options.”

Unlike other historic theaters in the area that have been saved and renovated, the Playpen was never given official landmark status that would prevent its being destroyed.

“We gave it the old college try,” said Anna Levin, who chairs the local community board’s land use committee. “This was looked at three times but we were completely rebuffed by the City Planning Commission.”

The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission also studied the issue and decided the building “did not meet three necessary criteria — architectural features, history and cultural contributions to the city,” said the agency’s spokeswoman, Lisi DeBourbon.

Earlier: Landmarks Body Considers Topless Bar — remember, three and it’s a trend!