Results tagged “preservation”

Whenever there's a story about the site of the World's Fair you can be certain the words neglected and/or deteriorated will be used. Last year the city was criticized for not better preserving the 130' x 166' terrazzo replica of a Texaco New York State road map at the New York State Pavilion. The winter weather dislodged and even cracked panels after a decision not to protect it was made.

While you were out enjoying the night for no reason, others were out enjoying the night for a cause. And that cause is to be able to enjoy many nights, more often, forever and ever. The Nightlife Preservation Community... is something that exists, and it was launched by the NY Nightlife Association on Monday. It's here to help you go out more often, stay out later, and age quicker—like Chloe Sevigny over there.

Last we checked in on the World's Fair site, the 130' x 166' terrazzo replica of a Texaco New York State road map, created in the mid-60s by architect Philip Johnson, was in "advanced disrepair." So much so that the Queens Museum of Art revisited the map in its original glory, as well as the present-day plans to protect it (the Parks Department and UPenn's Historic Preservation program had been working to restore some of the map).

Photograph of the corner of Essex and Delancey, with the Blue Condominium in the distance, by Betty Blade on Flickr

Recently Metro examined the neglected transverse walls of Central Park. The transverses, the sunken crosstown roads designed by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, "cut from schist, leaving rock outcroppings or stones set in rough-hewn walls" are crumbling before our eyes.

Earlier this week, the Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously agreed to allow the main branch of the New York Public Library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street to inscribe the name of a prominent donor, financier Stephen A. Schwarzman, multiple times on the library facade. The fabulously wealthy son of a grocer and co-founder of the Blackstone Group will have his name inscribed five times on the library’s façade as a shout-out for his $100 million unconditional gift to the NYPL.

It's unclear what the fate of 19th century rowhouses near the Brooklyn Navy Yard, originally built for high-ranking officers of the U.S. Navy, will be, as some are looking to demolish the historic but dilapidated homes while others are hoping they can be saved and preserved. Photographer Nathan Kensinger headed in for a rare look inside the homes and wrote:

This strip of six buildings was abandoned by the Navy in the 1970's and left to decay. Today, the interiors of several buildings are in a state of irreparable collapse. Fires and rain have destroyed roofs and floors while squatters have left mountains of debris. Vines and trees have moved indoors. Windows and walls have exploded inwards. Entire floors are missing.

However, some of the buildings are in remarkably good condition. Their staircases, light fixtures, plasterwork, shelves, mantlepieces and wood floors are only in need of polish and paint. The beauty of these architectural details, when compared to the complete devastation in other buildings, is a stunning indictment of the Navy's neglect.

Plans to construct a glass addition to the top of the Battery Maritime Building moved a little closer to fruition this week with the approval of Community Board 1. The New York Post reports that the Board was a little concerned about the scale of the glass addition that will be added to the century-old structure, but that something productive had to be done with the building to ensure its continued existence. Plans by the Dermot Company include the installation of a 140-room boutique hotel, a restaurant, a lounge, and a specialty foods marketplace.

The fate of the Moynihan Station in the James Farley post office building remains up in the air and it's unclear whether Madison Square Garden will also relocate to the Farley building. If MSG moves, plans say the old MSG would be razed and a new train tracks would be put on top. The Municipal Arts Society's New Penn Station campaign shares a plan from students (at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture's Historic Preservation Program) offering a different idea.

It's official. Today the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate DUMBO a historic district, pending City Council approval.

A 19th century Greek revival building on Pearl Street – the road that formed the oyster shell strewn border of New Amsterdam in the 17th century – will soon be torn down, according to the A.P. The former warehouse at 213 Pearl was built in 1831 and was integral to what Ric Burns calls “the first district in the world devoted exclusively to commerce.” Once the city approves the permit, demolition could start as early...