Controversial Dreamland renovations prevent summer opening

posted by Michael Zoldessy on February 1, 2007 at 4:45 am

NANTUCKET, MA — To add condos and dining space, the Dreamland Theatre is embarking on an extensive renovation that might compromise historic elements of the structure.

The historic Dreamland movie theater will have to be dismantled down to its bare timbers in order for its long-delayed renovation and expansion to move forward, architects told the Historic District Commission Tuesday night.

If such a project is approved, there is no way the 175-year-old movie house will be open in time for the summer season, despite a condition of its Planning Board special permit that requires movies to be shown from June 15-Sept. 15 while work is underway, town officials said this week.

“The building is going to be stripped down to its skeleton,” said Timothy Fitzroy, an associate with Brockton, Mass.-based BKA Architects, Inc., which was recently hired by Dreamland owner Haim Zahavi to take over work on the controversial project that also kept the building shuttered and dark last summer.

For more, go to the Inquirer and Mirror.

Theaters in this post

• Dreamland Theatre