Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Queens Plaza "art" is garbage collector


From CBS:

It’s called the “Gateway To Queens,” but some say it looks more like a graveyard.
The landscaping project at Queens Plaza is winning less-than-rave reviews from residents. Many think the design is ugly and some say it could even be dangerous.

Then again, to others it’s environmentally friendly, edgy and even cool.

“Anything that’s an attempt at art is a good thing,” one resident told CBS 2′s Tony Aiello.

Still, some believe the new landscape design at Queens Plaza has very little merit — artistic or otherwise.

“It’s a garbage catcher. Look at it — catching garbage,” another man said.

There is garbage everywhere, which is collected between the jagged chunks of concrete lined up like tombstones.

“I thought somebody robbed a graveyard and just stuck grave markers there,” another resident joked.

The city’s Economic Development Corporation is behind the redesign. EDC has bragged about the project as being good for the earth because the concrete is being recycled.

The EDC said it was also enhancing the landscape with the careful use of drought-resistant plants. But after a week of rain, many of them look to be in bad shape — especially those choked by garbage.


What happened to this:

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maspeth Mom says.....
I drive by it every day and still cant beleive it. We will see how fast it gets taken down when a child or elderly person falls onto one of those jagged rocks and gets hurt. What a mess it looks like a quarry truck took a wrong turn. Its not for pedestrians to be passing...

Anonymous said...

Ever since the first time I saw that I thought it is only going to be a matter of time before someone gets really hurt on that sharp concrete and will sue the city.

Christina Wilkinson said...

Great venue for the millstones...

Can we just put them in the lobby of the Tishman Building now? I don't think they should be surrounded by garbage-collecting gravestones.

Ed Koch said...

Leave it be. It is a magnificent propylaeum to my bridge.

Anonymous said...

Tishman Building?

Idea rejected by Cong Maloney's staff - every square inch in that building has to be revenue bearing they declared.

Every news article makes it clearer and clearer that the local historical society's suggestions are making sense.

Put them in a museum based in, and supported by, the local community.

Anonymous said...

I had no idea this was supposed to be art. I thought it was intended to prevent pedestrians from occupying the islands, thus preventing jaywalking, as well as preventing hookers and panhandlers from loitering around the traffic.

Anonymous said...

"every square inch in that building has to be revenue bearing they declared."

The DOH is revenue bearing?

Anonymous said...

What passes for art today is often laughable!

In this case it was poorly thought out....stupidly sited....and downright dangerous!

What happens in the winter when the snow and ice come....huh....duh?

Did this pass the Art Commission's review?

Anonymous said...

Don't kid yourself, there would be garbage there even if the concrete wasn't.

Anonymous said...

every square inch in that building has to be revenue bearing they declared."

The DOH is revenue bearing?


yup, on the ground floor!

Helen said...

Looks like a shovel-ready "green job"

Yocap said...

Where do I sign up to become a member of this "ART COMMISSION". How much money was spent on just this project? I'll bet enough to keep a firehouse opened for a while. So much money wasted buy this city, and then Mayor Bloomie blames it on the Civil Servant.

Anonymous said...

The Iron Shiek says "Pissa Sh*t"