Zoning board rejects grandson’s revised plan for Oscar Hammerstein museum, theatre

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FILE - In this Dec. 2, 1956, file photo, composer Richard Rodgers, left, and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, pose for a photo. The location of the photograph is not known. Hammerstein\'s grandson has lost his bid to create a museum and educational theater honoring the Broadway lyricist. Doylestown Township, Pa.\'s zoning board voted Monday, June 15, 2015, to deny variances that Will Hammerstein needed to build the project at his grandfather\'s former Pennsylvania farm. The plan included construction of a 400-seat theater. (AP Photo/File)

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The grandson of Oscar Hammerstein has lost his bid to create a museum and educational theatrehonouring the Broadway lyricist.

Doylestown Township’s zoning board voted Monday night to deny variances that Will Hammerstein needed to build the project at his grandfather’s former Pennsylvania farm. The plan included construction of a 400-seat theatre.

Neighbours and township supervisors had opposed the proposal at Highland Farm, saying they didn’t want to deal with the noise, traffic or safety issues they feared it would bring.

Hammerstein tells The (Doylestown) Intelligencer that he was anticipating the decision. He hasn’t decided if he’ll appeal but says it’d be tough to overturn the three-member board’s unanimous decision.

Highland Farm was Oscar Hammerstein’s primary residence during his musical partnership with Richard Rodgers. Hammerstein died there in 1960.

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