Gothamist: All in All Just Beams in a Wall

janine

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 17:37:38 -0500

They'll probably do it anyway. NPR covered it this morning saying that the revenue they'd get from the advertising would likely cover any fines and still leave a tidy profit. FYI Max, 2 Columbus Circle is not landmarked. It was rejected from the list when they tried to get it on back in the 90s. It's on an Endagered Buildings list, but that's slightly different. There aren't any rules against tearing it down. Landmarks list is run by NYC, the Endangered Buildings list is run by the National Historic Trust... all those guys can do is wring their hands.

Max

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 14:09:28 -0500

1. Corporations and Government are pretty much the ONLY ones who subsidize public art. They are required to do so by law (1% rule). 2. Fire escapes are no longer legal and cannot be used on any NEW building. 3. Umm, take a long look at Columbus Circle- the crazy building (landmarked) on the south side is going to change quite a bit in the next few months- precedent?- check.

Tim N.

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 10:50:58 -0500

If the board took over the building with the landmark designation in place, then it would seem that they have no case. People bought there knowing what they were getting into. And if a previous board gave their wall to the artist in '73, they're also out of luck, by the same reasoning. The only way they win, it would seem, is if they had some kind of expiration date. Either way, removing a Landmarks designation for the sake of commerce seems a very dangerous precedent. By that same logic, couldn't someone buy the Flatiron building and add 40 stories to it, in the name of commerce?

MT

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 09:02:44 -0500

They want the city to pay for thier lost advertising revenue because the landmarks commissioned forced them to leave the art in place? Does that mean buildings will be able to charge the city for lost advertising revenue because they forced them to put fire escapes up in place of valuable wall space? What a blantant attempt at blackmail.