Tom Wolfe's anti-LPC Op-Ed in the New York Times last November is still making waves. The Village Voice is now asking:Has Tom Wolfe Blown It?
The answer to why people become preservation activists is usually, "because a place they admired was destroyed and they didn't want to see it happen again." This awakening can occur at any age or stage of life. Tom Wolfe loved 2 Columbus Circle and was disappointed in the outcome. Why does the Voice think it weird that he would write passionately about the subject and against the lame city agency that allowed the building to remain unprotected?
The Voice is basically asking, "Doesn't he have anything better to write about?" QC is asking the same question of Mr. Gillette.
3 comments:
The truth is that Tom Wolfe skillfully "gutted" those barbaric "over-developers" who have been waging war against the civilized population of our city. His "golden words" left the real estate industry running out of their burning "retreats" with barely enough time to put on their pants! And I guess that you puny newspaper writers are all jealous of his style. I'll bet you' love to have him on your own staff. Bravo Tom! There's a place reserved in Heaven for you!
Wow, that piece made me feel good! If Don Bertrand can humiliate a local preservation effort in Queens, the Voice can do the same with Wolfe. We got company!!
Of course, they over played their hand. Its one thing to beat up a defenseless local, its something else to take on a world-class author.
I have a feeling our quiet suffering out here may so become a cultural icon in the hands of a Mr. Wolfe. Let's see, "Bonfire of the Communities?"
This is yet another example as to how the preservation community dropped the ball. Notice all the digs in the article about it being for an older crowd, not so sexy, etc. etc? Tell that to those vibrant (called 'aging' by the Voice) cities like Paris and London that pride themselves in architecture. It's so funny, the Voice is filled with advertising in areas that are newly renovated: Soho, the Village, Union Sq, Chelsea.
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