Saturday, May 18, 2013

Unisphere suffers damage








Hi Crappy,

Thought you'd be interested in this: The other day at Flushing Meadows park, I noticed a couple of the wires that hold the orbital rings on the Unisphere were broken and hanging down. It's on the lower ring opposite the NYC building/Queens Museum of Art. Not good.

I sent an e-mail to Parks Dept. to let them know about this, got an automated response that this will be forwarded to the appropriate agency with a service request # so let's see what they do.

Don Cavaioli

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

they did a $2 million maintenance project on the unisphere I believe in the early 2000s.

Anonymous said...

This represents a metaphor for broken government...especially what passes for it in the crooked borough of Queens.

Maybe Claire Shulman hung her heavy granny panties on the Unisphere to dry, and broke it.

Anonymous said...

Bye Bye Unisphere.
It was nice to know ya.
One day you too could be the site of a stadium. Hang in there.

Anonymous said...

Too many 3rd worlders climbing it!

Anonymous said...

That would be a great spot for a new soccer stadium!

Anonymous said...

Hey, there's a middle-eastern prince who can fix this right away, all we have to do in exchange is let him build a giant stadium right across the way!


BTW one email to Parks is not enough, you have to send at least 10, including the Mayor's office if you hope to get any real reply. They're very busy you know!

Missing Foundation said...

they did a $2 million maintenance project on the unisphere I believe in the early 2000s.

Gather 'round me children and I will tell thee of the Tweed Courthouse.

Anonymous said...

its made of US steel. relax.

Anonymous said...

"a $2 million maintenance project"

Would really like to see how the 2 million was spent.

Figure 1.9 million for lawyers, planners, accountants, environmental reviews and the army of ubiquitous consultants.

2 million just does not grease as many palms as it used to.

Anonymous said...

It will be fixed just in time for the US Open, that is also when the fountain around it will be turned on.

Joe said...

Rotting zinc turnbuckles have been rotting for years. I with with the engineers and installers that rebuilt the pump room (2 pumps)
We notified Estelle cooper and her people posing for a photo op with the pumps on of the apparent danger of human life & serious damage to the balanced structure in wind over 4 years ago.
She blew us all off (didn't give a shit) said Quote: "I will notify the experts to take another look at it"!!
WTF--these guys WERE EXPERTS ?

There are light fixtures in those city's on the Unisphere BTW. It wouldn't much but a couple workers with harnesses and bosons chairs to replace the sockets, wiring and get it all going.
-Joe

Anonymous said...

BTW
The support cables on the New York State Pavilions observation platforms are going as well.
Many don't know this but those decks are "hung" from support arms above. The brackets on the bottom are just for lateral stability and the floor.
The suspension cable's connection crimp bolts & pins appear to almost rusted through in some points. They should be X-Ray'd and replaced where needed.
To add All the copper drainage conduit & wire has now been stripped.. Even the elevator buttons and lights.

Anonymous said...

I heard Estelle is buried under the Unisphere.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Jimmy Hoffa is under there somewhere.
It's closer than dropping him in wet cement at the Meadowlands

Anonymous said...

"The support cables on the New York State Pavilions observation platforms are going as well."

Now that you mention it, I seem to recall that when the pavilion was first proposed they platforms were going to work like an elevator. People would board at ground level and then get raised to view the fair.

Anonymous said...

Got the community board after you call 311.......

Anonymous said...

The platforms weren't going to be elevators. There were little cabs that went up and down. I think they're still attached to the structure.

Anonymous said...

two quick comments---has anyone ever looked up the street names of this area on a map--interesting names---possibly historical----also the area between here and the mta yards----that area is an aqua filter for the old Jamaica water company wells that are still in use by the epa at times, the trains are washed with better tasting chemicals-----there should be no construction in this park