Hotel Pennsylvania - by McKim Mead & White - to be replaced by 15 Penn Plaza

[investordude]

C'mon, you can't just say something like that and not give us more details

[BrooklynRider]

Demolition RFP

[londonlawyer]

But does that necessarily mean that the Merill project is proceeding? Maybe Vornado just wants to pre-empt landmarking activity.

[MidtownGuy]

Very sad.
Hackers, attack!!

[ZippyTheChimp]

For me the importance here is not so much the Penn as an individual building, but the old-style Gotham street wall, the line-up of old brick buildings that happens here.

[ablarc]

^ Q. E. D.

[NewYorkDoc]

Which means?

[econ_tim]

quod erat demolished

[antinimby]

The really sad part is that we'll get another faceless, sterile, glass tower that in twenty years (if that) will be once again outdated just like the Penn Plazas were by the 80's and then everyone will be lamenting on why there wasn't more efforts to save the venerable Pennsylvania.

Of course by that time, Merrill Lynch or whichever corporate giant will become the tenant, will have ditched the place for another "more modern" facility god knows where and the stupid cycle begins again.

[ablarc]

^ Prediction may come true.

[NYguy]

The really sad part is that we'll get another faceless, sterile, glass tower that in twenty years (if that) will be once again outdated just like the Penn Plazas were by the 80's and then everyone will be lamenting on why there wasn't more efforts to save the venerable Pennsylvania.

Don't bet on it.

[NYguy]

It' ALWAYS only a small band of people who care about architecture or beauty in general. That should not be surprising ...or really even of any importance.

But after the fact, ask the general public if they're thankful for the landmarking of individual buildings and whole neighborhoods. I'm sure the answer will be yes.

Hardly.

The fact is, the general public couldn't care less about these issues. Most are just trying to make it through the day, pay their bills, and survive. If you don't believe it, just stop any random person on the street. Furthermore, most New Yorkers have likely never even heard of the Hotel Pennsylvania, let alone care if it stands or not.

Those concerned - on either side of the issue - are in the vast, vast minority.

[Fabrizio]

"Those concerned - on either side of the issue - are in the vast, vast minority."

Which is exactly what I said: "It' ALWAYS only a small band of people who care.."

And I add "But after the fact, ask the general public if they're thankful for the landmarking of individual buildings and whole neighborhoods. I'm sure the answer will be yes."

In fact: Ask people if they are happy there is the Village or Soho or Carnegie Hall or Radio City or Amsterdam Theatre or...

Although the vast majority of people at the time were unconcerned about the possible passing of these places ("that's progress") you can be sure people are happy today that they still exist.

They are all places that exist today because of a concerned minority.

If you believe the majority of New Yorkers have never heard of the Hotel Penn... well... what's your point? If that's the case, then they probably have never heard of Sniffen Court or Pomander Walk either.

So by your reasoning this should go too?

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/UWS/...nder20Walk.jpg


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[ZippyTheChimp]

Don't bet on it.

Wonder where the smart-money would have gone on a Goldman-Sachs bet.

[Alonzo-ny]

The difference is Goldman developed their own building where as we have vornado here and its in their interest to build a statement.