The Roseland Ballroom's Nearly Gone to Make Way for Luxury Condos

April 8, 2015 — First it was a skating rink. Then it was a music venue. Now it's a pile of rubble. The Roseland Ballroom, which moved a block over to its still convenient location at 239 West 52nd Street in 1956, closed its doors for good a year and a day ago today. Its demolition, now in its eighth month, has been as slow as its history has been rich. But like so much of old New York, it has to make way for the new and shiny. Given the prime Midtown location, you won't be surprised that the Roseland, where many got to see their favorite bands play, is dying a slow death to make way for new luxury condos. Thanks a lot, one percent. Gothamist invites us to step inside to see what's left of a building that had stood on the spot since 1922. Among the gutted remains are wallpaper, mirror tiles and old tips jars. But hey. Who needs to catch The Cult again at a historic venue when the mega rich can have yet another place to live?

The Roseland Ballroom in 2005. Photo by Kate Leonova for Property Shark.