Architecture Here and There

Illustrations: Above, the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, in Palm Beach; below, the Rochambeau Branch Library with Ann Beha addition, in Providence, R.I.; the lonely facade of the Providence National Bank; the Providence police/fire headquarters in the process of demolition; another view of the Royal Poinciana Playhouse

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Every now and then the plight of a lovely old building gathers the strands of debate over historic preservation, and not just preservation but urbanism -- and democracy itself. Take the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, centerpiece of the Royal Poinciana Plaza, built half a century ago in Palm Beach, Fla. It peers sadly at the snout of a bulldozer chugging in its direction.

The bulldozer is being driven by Ann Beha Architects. Beha left its mark on the Providence public library's Rochambeau branch, built in 1930. In 2005, a glass-box addition was smooshed into the face of its Georgian Revival façade.

The Ann Beha firm is one of those architectural shops known for working within historic environments -- like a hand grenade! The firm's Web site says that it "balance[s] the highest preservation standards with compelling, contemporary design expression." Suffice it to say that "highest preservation standards" is a low bar these days.

Beha, of Boston, has been hired by the Sterling Group to "revitalize" Royal Poinciana Plaza, designed in a Regency style by John L. Volk, in 1957. Today, the plaza, which sits on Cocoanut Row between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, is an office/commercial development surrounded by parking lots. Beha has come up with a plan to renovate the plaza by refurbishing most of its buildings, adding condos, turning the parking into gardens and opening new waterfront where the playhouse sits. At least that's the announced proposal. Whether that's the actual intent and, if so, whether the plan is legal under current zoning are at issue in Palm Beach. The plan would doom the playhouse, except for a single forlorn façade.

Sound familiar? Of course it does. It is Providence's Weybosset Street façade redux.

The project Web site offers a fabulous cartoon tour around the site, but views and plans entered into the record seem to belie the luxurious imagery. And yet, if I were to stumble upon the proposal online, I must admit my senses would be rather enchanted. Palm Beach has a notable collection of Spanish Revival buildings, many designed by Addison Mizner for the 1920s Florida tycoon, Henry Flagler. The plaza's Regency style by Volk fits in gracefully, as classical architecture is designed to do -- neighborly in its diversity, as always.

But I didn't just stumble upon these plans. They were sent to me by opponents of the project who seek to protect not just the legacy of John Volk's architecture but the future of Palm Beach.

Today, the playhouse appears to have a big target painted on its roof. The developers, architect Beha and the town council seem to be ignoring a 1979 agreement by the town to preserve the playhouse and plaza, upheld by a court in 2007. The Palm Beach comprehensive plan seems to bar the Sterling proposal. Meanwhile, the playhouse has suffered since 2004 from "malign neglect," a prelude to demolition. It reminds Providence of our lovely police/fire headquarters, razed in 2007.

The Royal Poinciana Playhouse doesn't deserve to die. Its exteriors are rich, befitting its environment. The grand acoustics of its concert hall are unlikely to be duplicated today. Its loss would be a terrible shame for Palm Beach, and shameful to those who permit such a legacy to be lost.

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission must recognize the importance of the history for which it is by law responsible. Civic leaders must recognize the importance of the rule of law. Democracy on the local level enables local people to chart the future of local communities. If a locality has passed laws to protect its character and those laws are ignored, it is not just the character of the place but the power of the people that is lost. And if that vanishes, the beauty of Palm Beach is a goner, if not today then tomorrow. Yes, the forces of ugliness have rights, too, but to ignore or to circumvent existing law are not among them.

The forces that have the playhouse in the crosshairs are altogether predictable in this era of financial gluttony. (Hey! Wasn't that supposed to be over?) Why build a new playhouse except to line pockets that might go unlined if the community respects the value of the old one, still standing in its faded glory? It remains superior to any new one likely to be built by architects and developers with such a faint regard for the voice of the people as inscribed in the laws of Palm Beach.

Save the Royal Poinciana Playhouse. Debauching a landmark isn't necessary to update or even to profit from the character of Palm Beach -- or Providence, or anywhere, for that matter.

David Brussat is a member of The Journal's editorial board (dbrussat@projo.com). His projo.com blog is called Architecture Here and There.

 Tags  architecture John Volk Palm Beach preservation Providence RI Royal Poinciana Playhouse Royal Poinciana Plaza

Comments

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Gilbert Levin said:

The developer says the playhouse is 50 years old, which, he says, puts it beyond redemption! Woe behold the classic structures of the world if this metric becomes universally applicable! Years ago, upon returning from a visit to the San Carlo, I saw a performance at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse. The performance was fine, but what really impressed me was how like the San Carlo was the Poinciana! Beautiful red velvet and gold - and gorgeous acoustics! It's hard to believe that that ultimate citadel of posh, the Town of Palm Beach, would allow its elected officials even to consider such an outrage, let alone commit it! The whole affair seems tainted with the current epidemic of special interests infecting politics. How else explain it?

Link | February 13, 2010 5:39 PM
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Robert A. Ficalora said:

The rights to the Poinciana Theater were SOLD in the March 6th, 1979 agreement between Poinciana Properties and the Town of Palm Beach. In return, valuable consideration was granted through profitable variances to develop the shopping center at the site.

The 1979 Agreement, therefore, was a contract. The deed by which the current claimant owner, Sidney Spiegel, took title on October 1st, 1979, reflects this fact. What Mr. Spiegel purchased was a profitable shopping center with a contractual obligation to maintain and operate the Poinciana Theater. The rights and obligations established by the 1979 agreement are attached to and run with the land.

In the July 10th, 2007, Final Judgment of Judge David F. Crow in the matter of Poinciana Management, Inc. vs. Town of Palm Beach the court held that:

"Plaintiff, as successor and assignee to the 1979 Agreement,does not have the right to demolish the Poinciana Theater."

The application before the Landmarks Commission is requesting approval to demolish the theater and is, therefore, requesting its complicity in contempt for an order of the court.

Link | February 14, 2010 1:28 PM
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