The day after Village of Pelham Trustees approved a contract for a developer to draw up plans for the transformation of the Picture House and several gas stations on Wolfs Lane into a mixed-use property, the Pelham Preservation and Garden Society weighed in on the debate over the future of the 105-year-old cinema.
“We were surprised and concerned to learn of the Village of Pelham’s decision to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a developer,” the group said in a statement released Wednesday, “particularly without broader community involvement or transparent communication. Decisions of this magnitude — especially those affecting historic structures and the character of our downtown — warrant open dialogue, public engagement, and thoughtful consideration of preservation alternatives.”
The statement noted that the Picture House is planning to host an open house for its supporters next Tuesday, February 17, at 6:30 PM, and urged residents to attend.
“PPGS stands ready to collaborate constructively with the Picture House Board members, the Village of Pelham government, community stakeholders, and other partners to ensure that The Picture House is protected and that any redevelopment plans respect Pelham’s historic fabric and community values,” the society’s board said in the statement.
The PPGS statement described the Picture House as an “anchor of our community since 1921,” when it was built. It noted that the theater was twice saved from being shut down or demolished, first in 1928, and then between 2001 and 2004. “At that time, when demolition loomed and the building was slated to become a retail bank, Pelham residents united to raise nearly one million dollars—enough to purchase the theater outright and preserve it for future generations.”
The town’s commitment to the theater was rewarded in 2010 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, having already earned a similar designation from the state of New York.
“These dual listings acknowledge the theater’s architectural significance—its Spanish Revival design, its early 20th-century character—and its central role in Pelham’s cultural identity,” PPGS said. These designations also allow the Picture House to receive grants at the federal and state level, including the funds it received in 2018 to pay for a new roof.
“These funds allow for continued restoration, planning, and community education efforts. In other words, the Picture House is not only cherished by our town—it is formally recognized by our state and nation as a place worth protecting,” the PPGS statement continued.
“But even with these resources, preservation requires dedication. It requires community focus. And it requires a continued commitment to maintaining the very thing our friends and neighbors twice rallied to save. The theater remains a rare surviving single-screen movie house—still operating, still vibrant, still bringing us together for film, culture, and education.”
The statement closed with a pledge from PPGS to support the Picture House:
“Rest assured, our entire Board of Directors will do everything within our power to help preserve this iconic building and to advocate for a transparent, inclusive process moving forward.”
