Developers May Raze UES Playground for Another Bad Creation

Hundreds of protesters came out on the Upper East Side to voice their dissatisfaction with word that the developer Related Cos is planning to build a 40-story office tower on the spot that is now home to Ruppert Playground, the popular park on East 92nd between 2nd and 3rd. Geoffrey Croft, NYC Park Advocates President, said, "This is an incredible shame. The quality of life for these residents would sink to a new low." Could the quality of life on the UES get any lower? Related Cos gained the ability to develop on the site last year after a 25-year deal with the city to maintain the playground expired. Croft told Crains, "This community ranks dead last in the amount of parks and open space in the entire city...The city sold the property to a developer and the city can negotiate a deal to get it back!” Google Maps clocks the walk to Central Park at approximately seven minutes.

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By Billy Parker in News on April 27, 2009 5:54 PM

Comments [rss]

whitecastlerock

More office space! Hooray the recession is over!!!!!!!

Mr Mel

The Related Companies will use of square inch of allowable space. What they have to do is build on less land and replace some of the park space. However, in this town, the Real Estate interests rule.

NannyState

For today's World's Tiniest Violin, I've chosen a lovely 18th centry Guarneri. I only hope its sweet tonality echoes off the lifeless concrete canyons of the UES.

fishfryin

billy, great editorial comments! i mean, really, how dare local residents actually try to preserve a park space? everyone who lives on the upper east side is just spoiled anyway. keep it real in whatever cool, salt-of-the-earth neighborhood you live in buddy!

Oscar

This is a great park & vital part of the community. It features - tennis, basketball, paddleball...this part of the city does not need more high rise apartment buildings it needs more open space!

Oscar

This is a great park & vital part of the community. It features - tennis, basketball, paddleball...this part of the city does not need more high rise apartment buildings it needs more open space!

bsalamon

hence why living out in the suburbs makes more sense...grass

bsalamon

hence why living out in the suburbs makes more sense...grass

Rocknrope

Nice '90s ABC reference. Whatever happened to those guys?

Toby von Meistersinger

Seems like a good time for the city to use eminent domain.

JacqueMehoff

I know that park, take my lunch hour there when I worked at Metropolitan.

can't believe they would wedge an office building in that giant residential complex.

Geoelh

Not that my heart bleeds for the UES, but what a stupid place to put an office tower. Like we haven't got enough vacant office space in midtown and downtown. I can't believe this is even permitted by the zoning!