the gaiety's dying

status check - disheartened
background ambiance - letterman

from my myspace rants today (and there were several):

the gaiety theatre may come down tomorrow.

the phoenix reports that a last minute injunction hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. today. no information about the decision is yet available, but things didn't look good.

if justice keith c. long of massachusetts land court rules against the injunction, friday would mark the first day kensington place developers could tear down the theater, located on washington street in chinatown. boston's inspectional services department granted kensington a demolition permit on dec. 10.

since learning about the gaiety a few months ago, i have tried to maintain my faith in boston's logic and sense of tradition - all the while preparing myself for news of this nature. i'd walked by the building time and time again during my travels and had no idea that a theater was inside - thanks largely to kensington's successful attempts to let the building fall to ruin.

loathsome kudos would also go to the boston redevelopment authority and boston zoning commission, who have contorted city statues so as to allow the theater to reach this point. the BZC specificially bars anyone from demolishing a theater in the midtown cultural district (unless the building is deemed unsafe). questions over whether the gaiety building is still considered a theater remain unanswered, particularly since the demolition permit describes the legal use as a theater.

i've made a point to return to the gaiety since learning of what was inside - that it could be destroyed has infuriated me for months. the reckless disregard for a theater space is unforgivable - particularly when one learns of the shoddy care and treatment kensington developers have given the building for over 20 years. look at photos of the space - it could be saved and it would be gorgeous. not just another highrise of luxury apartments and a few token "affordable" housing units (and a highrise that does not conform to statutes, no less).

i'd recommend checking out the "friends of the gaiety" web site. a few photos from the exterior are available in boston galleries at my photo site (password DA36).

i'm going to be furious if i go back to boston in a week and a half and there's no gaiety to look upon. but i wonder if it would be worse to have demolition already started when i see it next or just know it's days away?