Thursday, September 18, 2008

City wants to preserve Tent's tomorrows

After decades of neglect at the New York State Pavilion, the city wants the 1964 World's Fair icon added to the National Register of Historic Places, making it eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in rehab grants.

The move follows months of activity at the long-decaying structure, where workers lowered broken, loose elevators in July and are now patching concrete on the three towers and the columns of the Tent of Tomorrow rotunda.


City seeks grant money to fix World's Fair landmark New York State Pavilion

"It's really an exciting time for the pavilion," said John Krawchuk, the city Parks Department's historic preservation director. "We're very positive about its future."

Preservationists praised the city's quest for state and federal funds, which may help pay for efforts to stabilize the pavilion and save a terrazzo map of New York State on the rotunda floor.

The state Historic Preservation Office - which approves sites for the register - called the pavilion a "nationally significant resource" in a 2003 letter to the city, and is "interested" in listing it, spokesman Dan Keefe said.

But Queens civic leader Greg Godfrey wondered why the Parks Department didn't push for city landmark status, which would bar major alterations and demolition at the pavilion.

"It doesn't make much sense," said Godfrey, president of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park World's Fair Association.


Krawchuk responded that city landmarking is "always a possibility," but takes much more time and effort than applying for the national register.

That's complete and utter bullshit by Mr. Krawchuk. Submitting a request for evaluation to LPC takes about 5 minutes. Completing a national register application can take weeks.

7 comments:

LauraS said...

It doesn't make much sense, does it? However, it will soon be clear as it always is. Someone, somewhere will have something to GAIN from this. And it won't be the people of the City of NY or Queens.

I grew up in the shadow of the Park, as we used to call it as kids. It is a damn shame that a huge parcel of parkland is treated this way, especially one with such historical significance.

Shame on NYC

Anonymous said...

Let's pray for the stabilization, restoration, landmarking, and historically-sensitive reuse of this icon. Queens & worldwide enthusiasts would be scarred with anything less. The city owes us.

Anonymous said...

I am sore at this neglect and believe it should be taken down. If it is restored, it won't be maintained in the future. This park could have been something special - but it's not - a lost cause - shameful.

Anonymous said...

You're "sore at this neglect" ?

They why didn't you open your
big mouth earlier and DEMAND its preservation you moron?

H-m-m-m...
sounds like we've got another armchair "expert" here...
highly adept in slinging BS in lieu
of moving his ass to do something worthwhile for his community!

Anonymous said...

It's the Eiffel Tower of Queens, our borough's answer to the Parachute Tower of Coney Island. May it get the respect it deserves!

Anonymous said...

Heard all this before

Im sure John Krawchuk means well however the City will drag stonewall any project to save this structure stomp Krawchuk out like a bug if he make waves.

Many of the Theater in The Park employees love the NYSP as well.
However they have been powerless for over 30+ years.

Anonymous said...

Funny how this story reads " now patching concrete on the three towers and the columns of the Tent of Tomorrow rotunda"

Those slots in the columns are part of the design.
Those workers are bricking them up with concrete block where simple bird wire would do (like the Hall of Science rockets)

IMHO too many people figured out how to get in and up those towers as well as TAKE PHOTOS OF THE INSIDE, climb staircases and have parties, orgys etc up there.
It was proving our politicians to be a bunch of liars!!
The city spends $20,000 + to change a lightbulb ?

The main staircase structures, anchors and counterweight tracks for the Skystreakes were intact.

Queens's is being duped !
I get it now !
This building is a cash cow for all the union people involved with it.