Proposed Demolition
The threat of the Hotel Pennsylvania's demolition was first introduced in 1997 when Vornado Realty Trust bought the hotel. Vornado announced in 2007 that the hotel was to be demolished to make way for a new office building with Merrill Lynch as its anchor tenant. Owner Vornado Realty Trust intended to build a 2,500,000-square-foot (230,000 m2) building by 2011.
In 2007 the Save Hotel Pennsylvania Foundation was created.
Shortly after the announcement of Vornado's plans, the staff of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, a magazine which sponsors biennial HOPE hacker conventions at the hotel, began investigating possible ways to save the hotel from demolition. They were joined by the new Save the Hotel Pennsylvania Foundation, whose members included a number of city organizations and politicians to aid in the landmarking of the hotel, including The Historic District Council, Manhattan Community Board 5, and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried. In November 2007, Manhattan Community Board 5 voted 21-8 to have New York City Council landmark the historic hotel. However in February 2008 the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission denied the request for landmarking.
Preservation efforts have proven difficult. Emmanuel Goldstein of 2600 noted that while people overseas expressed concern over the fate of the hotel, "New Yorkers might not care enough to get involved. The hotel was old; the rooms weren’t as big and luxurious as other more modern facilities; and New Yorkers simply weren’t in a position to grasp the importance of such a place since they normally don’t need cheap and easily accessible hotels if they already live here."
In May 2010 the hotel was again in danger of demolition. Borough president for Manhattan Scott Stringer gave a conditional approval overruling Manhattan Community Board 5.
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is currently in the process of reviewing the hotel's Cafe Rouge for landmarking status. The evaluation papers were sent in by the Save Hotel Pennsylvania Foundation
On July 14, 2010 the New York City Department of City Planning voted unanimously in favor of the construction of the tower.
On August 23, 2010 the NYC Council voted to approve the proposed ULURP submitted by the building owners.
On October 22, 2010 the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission declined the request for landmarking of the Cafe Rouge
On December 14, 2011 Vornado proposed to delay the demolition of the hotel due to market conditions.
Read more about this topic: Hotel Pennsylvania
Famous quotes containing the word proposed:
“It looks as if we may be presented with a kind of vast municipal fire station.... What is proposed is like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much loved and elegant friend.”
—Charles, Prince Of Wales (b. 1948)