Richard Magat, Man in Manhattan: NYC Landmarks in Danger
By Richard Magat
Oct. 7, 2015: As the world mourns the destruction of ancient monuments by the Taliban, it is worth recalling that even in the West, revered monuments may be endangered.
In our lifetime, for example, plans to demolish Grand Central Station were floated in l954. A proposal for installing bowling alleys within Grand Central were fought off, but even the passage of a landmark preservation law and the picketing by Jane Jacobs and the noted architect Philip Johnson would not prevent the three-year demolition in the 1960s of the soaring 1910 Beaux-Arts masterpiece that was Pennsylvania Station.
Other architectural icons that were destroyed were the Biltmore Hotel, the lavish Brokaw Mansion across from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
But despite the passage of the landmarks law, many buildings are vulnerable to the blandishments of real estate developments, even so simple a structure as the Donnell Library on West 53rd Street to make way for a high-rise hotel. A similar fate overtook the 1964 Gallery of Modern Art on Columbus Circle.
Pressures are relentless. A $1.1 billion lawsuit was recently filed against the de Blasio administration, city council, and the developer of a 1,500-foot office tower on the grounds that the city's granting of permission to build the tower deprived Grand Central Terminal's owner of property rights and rendered the air rights over Grand Central Terminal worthless.
Notwithstanding the lawsuit, the Manhattan skyline continues to grow. There are several new towers going up on or near "billionaires' row" in Midtown--217 West 57th Street, which will be only one foot shorter than 1 World Trade Center; an ultra-luxury tower at 53 West 53rd Street, with condo prices between $3 million and more than $50 million; 220 Central Park South, a 950-foot structure that already has over $1 billion of commitments for its condominiums; and 432 Park Avenue, which will be the tallest residential building in the world (until 217 West 57th Street is built).
Officially designated landmark buildings in the city number 65,000.
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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