December 7, 2005
Mayor Vetos City Council's Brooklyn Warehouse De-Landmarking
Bam! The Mayor used his veto power to "support landmark status" for a Brooklyn warehouse in Williamsburg. The City Council had approved to remove landmark status for the Austin, Nichols Warehouse at 184 Kent Avenue (read this Gotham Gazette story about it) last week, paving the way for the building to be converted to condos. City Councilman David Yassky told the NY Times that the Mayor's sudden decision to go landmark happy was "to curry favor with preservationists after refusing to landmark 2 Columbus Circle. Now they'll milk it and really try to get political credit." What, politicians trying to get political credit? Shocking!
The Mayor says that the building is significant because its designed by Cass Gilbert - he did design the Woolworth Building, after all. Do you think the Mayor is a playa playing the game - and do you hate the game or the playa? Or is this the right thing to do, whereas 2 Columbus Circle was an eyesore?
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The only reason 2 Columbus Circle isn't landmarked is because the guy that originally put in the cash to build it, Huntington Hartford, isn't PC enough for the landmark committee and Mike Bloomberg. This warehouse has no significance as far as I can tell except that it was designed by a famous architect. Mike's preference for looking at brand names rather than the intrinsic value of the structure is showing.
that seems like a pretty crappy reason to keep the building.
The Museum of Arts and Design, which is planning on destroying the 2 Columbus Circle building has Laurie Beckelman on the payroll. Laurie is also the former chairwoman of the landmarks commission. No wonder why the commission won't consider landmarking the building. In twenty years people will wonder how this happened in the same way we look at the old Penn Station.
Doubtful Pugsley. 2 Columbus Circle was never that nice. Unfortunately, the replacement isn't too nice either. Let's see - a building facing Central Park without any windows????
I like the Kent Avenue Warehouse though. I think it's fine to add some penthouses to it, but I'd object to expanding the windows.
The NYT article makes it sound like the City Council still can (and will) override Bloomberg's veto. How does that make any sense? And who voted for the Yaasky character anyhow?
I just got kicked out of that building because of the landmark status being revoked!