How long as the Islip Movie Theater been abandoned? (day care, buyer)

[LIguy257]

I'm just curious because it seems that no one has cared about the theater or it's future until an application was filed by someone looking to start a business in the location. Only then did the residents decide the theater was so integral to their lives and pulled out all the stops to get it renovated. If you didn't care before, why care now?

The residents rose up and prevented someone from starting their own business which, from my understanding, would be a blessing for the area given the economic downturn. There are plenty of boarded up store fronts, so I would think that if the town had buyer willing to open a business as opposed to keep an abandoned building that no one previously cared about, that they'd make the right call.

It just gets me to see all these petitions and protests and people trying to raise money to protect the theater--where was all this effort for *years* when the building was just sitting there? Don't you want businesses that actually generate income and tax revenue in your town? Plus it was a day care, which I'm sure many local residents would find useful.

I happen to know the people involved with the day care and they have waited very long for a location to start their business. It's sad to me that they are now unable to do that. I get the idea of preserving what people might feel is a landmark, but my point is that no one gave a crap about it all that time...not until someone wanted the location.

I'd like that mentality explained to because it's very frustrating to watch.

[WIHS2006]

I can't recall seeing movie listings for the Islip movie theater for at least 7 or 8 years now. I think it's only been abandoned for 2 or 3 years now though.

[rainroosty]

Sounds to me that people "gave a crap" all along - it's just that there was no threat to it's existence until now.