There are a select few theaters in the US that have stood the test of time and become legendary in their own right. One such theater is the Quad Cinema in New York City. The famous Manhattan theater is a film fan’s dream, with special showings of classic films and a history that can’t be touched by anything with AMC or Regal in the name. But sadly, it looks like some residents in NYC are threatening to get the Quad shut down.
According to the New York Post, the co-op that runs the building in which the Quad Cinema resides has issued the theater with a notice that the business was in breach of its lease due to noise complaints. And now, if the co-op board gets its way, the Quad Cinema could be without a home.
The issue started back in 2017, shortly after the April re-opening of the theater. Even after a two-year renovation that included “extensive soundproofing,” the Quad began receiving noise complaints saying the film soundtracks were being heard in the apartments above the cinema. The theater responded by stopping use of subwoofers and turning down the default volume to a 4 out of 10.
The report says the noise complaints almost completely went away, except for one. One resident kept on complaining well into 2018. When the management from the Quad inspected the sound levels in the resident’s apartment, they said it could be faintly heard. So, the Quad went and turned down the sound even more, to appease the angry resident.
But the resident kept filing complaints, which has now led to the Quad receiving the breach of lease notice, threatening to oust the business. The Quad responded with more solutions, hiring HVAC and audio technicians to come in and figure out how to get the board to approve.
A spokesman for the Quad said in a statement, “Considering the robust support the Quad has received from the surrounding communities and the movie industry, the co-op’s attempt to hold the Quad in default of its lease is wholly without merit and is being vehemently opposed.”
Now, the Quad has to sue the co-op board to stop the eviction. Hopefully, a peaceful agreement can be met. If not, NYC would lose one of the best theaters in the country. And for film fans and the community, that would be a shame.