As its president put it, the planned $60 million renovation for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's plaza is meant to make its entrance "attractive and welcoming rather than austere and forbidding." And part of the plan involved over 120 tables and hundreds of chairs, along with kiosks selling food and museum tickets. But in the wake of the museum's recent decision to drop the kiosks, the Post now reports, "The upper crust in nine Fifth Avenue buildings signed a secret deal with the Metropolitan Museum of Art to scale down big plans for the institution’s iconic plaza, the Post has learned. Under the agreement, the Met will reduce its design from 100 tables and 400 chairs to 30 tables and 120 chairs."
Further, "The agreement states that the co-ops cannot file suit against the museum or assist anyone else in challenging the plaza. If others sue the Met, the Fifth Avenue socialites must provide an affidavit stating that 'the museum’s plans for the fountains, trees and plantings will significantly improve the plaza’s visual appearance,' the legal document says."
When plans for the renovations, a $60 million project that will be paid by billionaire philanthropist (and Obama-hater) David Koch, were revealed earlier this year, community members objected to them. One CB 8 member said, "I don’t think it’s appropriate. This is a neighborhood, not a place to hang out."
That's the refrain apparently repeated at a private meeting at the Met—according to the Post, a resident said, "This isn’t some sort of sidewalk cafe or food court. What museum has tables and chairs in front of it?" The Post points out, "The plaza is owned by the city, and the museum gets millions in taxpayer money." Watch out, Fifth Avenue—next thing you'll know, you'll get a pedestrian plaza!
